William Wordsworth (1908-1988) in his large and varied output embraces many forms, including orchestral, chamber and instrumental music, and songs. His scores are consummately well-crafted and display a rugged individuality. There are no sensational tricks, no compromises to fashion and his is generally a quieter, more contemplative voice than that of his contemporaries. Various influences such as Sibelius, Bartók, Nielsen and, to a lesser extent, Bax and Vaughan Williams may be detected fleetingly in some of his writing, but he went his own way and the best of his music is passionate, tough, direct and sincere.

Wordsworth’s Symphony no.1 (1944) has been broadcast on a couple of occasions, but has not yet received a public performance. The Fifth Symphony (1960) is a riot of colour and seemingly unstoppable invention. Representing the composer at the very peak of his powers, it ranks as one of his most life-affirming utterances.

In 1957 he wrote, ‘I am quite convinced that I have something to say, and an individual way of saying it which the ordinary music-lover is capable is responding to if he is given sufficient opportunities. I would not go through the labour of creation were I not so convinced.’

The Lyrita Recorded Edition Trust - Itter Broadcast Collection

In 1952 Richard Itter, the founder of Lyrita, began to make domestic recordings of BBC transmissions using state-of-the-art disc and tape recorders. He documented his collection but rarely listened to it, thus preserving a pristine archive. The Lyrita Recorded Edition Trust began a transfer programme in 2014 with the intention to release the best and rarest of these recordings to the public.

Track list:

1. Overture ‘Conflict’ for orchestra, op.86 (1968)
BBC broadcast 17 January 1971

Symphony No.1 in F minor, op.23 (1944)
2. I Allegro maestoso
3. II Adagio ma non troppo
4. III Scherzo. Allegro con brio
5. IV Andante largamente – Allegro
BBC broadcast 17 December 1968

Symphony No.5 in A minor, op.68 (1960) *
6 I Andante maestoso
7 II Allegro
8 III Andante largamente - Allegro
BBC broadcast 22 August 1979

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Conductors: James Loughran, Stewart Robertson*