A book charting a personal history of 50 years’ researching and recording neglected British repertoire was launched in late April by publisher Vocalion Books.
Recording British Music, written by Lewis Foreman and with a foreword by Roger Wright, is described as a fascinating journey through Britain’s rich heritage of music-making.
“If you are thrilled by the revival of the music of British composers from the first half of the 20h century – from Elgar and Delius to Bax, Brian, and John Foulds, not to mention Richard Arnell and, of course, Vaughan Williams – then you will want Lewis Foreman’s first-hand account of how some of it was done in the recording studio over a period of 50 years,” said Vocalion Books.
Foreman’s memories of composers, conductors, and artists, and some half-dozen recording companies, begin with the Lyrita label and end with Dutton Epoch.
Foreman’s activities have included not only researching the repertoire, but also taking session photographs, and this autobiographical account features more than 200 colour plates. He writes about recording sessions entertainingly, and includes anecdotes and even two cartoons.
Also memorialised are several of the musicologists – Anthony Payne, Christopher Palmer, Graham Parlett, Martin Yates, Rodney Newton, and Jeremy Dibble – who have brought composers’ sketches and forgotten music to performance.
Priced at £29.99 this 460 page book can be ordered from the Dutton Vocalion website.