John Foulds

Short bio John Foulds

Birthday: 1880

Died: 1939

Active: 1900s - 1930s

Genre: Classical

Period: Modern

Full biography John Foulds

John Herbert Foulds (1880-1939) was an English composer who remains relatively unknown today , despite writing over sixty works during his lifetime. Foulds was largely self-taught, and his music reflected his wide-ranging interests in different musical styles and cultures, from Indian music to the English pastoral style.

Foulds made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was one of the first English composers to experiment with quarter-tones, and his works often incorporated unconventional instruments and techniques. Foulds wrote for a wide range of ensembles, including chamber groups, orchestras, and operas. He also composed numerous works for the theatre, including ballet and film scores.

One of Foulds' most significant works is 'A World Requiem', a large-scale choral work for orchestra and choir that was completed in 1921. It was written to commemorate those who lost their lives in World War I and includes text in several different languages. Despite receiving critical acclaim upon its premiere, 'A World Requiem' fell out of favor in subsequent years and was largely forgotten until rediscovered in the 1980s.

Foulds was also known for his innovative approach to composition and harmonic structures. He believed that music had the power to heal and promote greater understanding between different cultures, and his compositions reflected this belief. Foulds' works often transcend traditional tonality and incorporate elements of Eastern and Western musical traditions.

In summary, John Foulds was an influential and innovative composer who is often overlooked in the classical music canon. His works reflected his wide-ranging interests, from Indian classical music to the English pastoral style. Despite being largely self-taught, Foulds made significant contributions to the music world, particularly with his experimental use of quarter-tones and unconventional instrumentation. His belief in music as a healing force remains an enduring legacy of his life's work.

Compositions featuring John Foulds

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Symphonic studies, for string orchestra, Op.101		Orchestral	1938
2	A Symphony of east & west, for European & Indian instruments, Op.100		Orchestral	1937
3	Grand Durbar March, for orchestra	6:05 min	Orchestral	1937
4	Basque Serenade, for orchestra	6:23 min	Orchestral	1937
5	Kashmiri Wedding Procession, orchestra	4:19 min	Orchestral	1936
6	Scène Picaresque (Spanish Serenade), for orchestra	3:44 min	Orchestral	1936
7	Kashmiri Boat Song on Jhelum River, for orchestra	3:52 min	Orchestral	1936
8	Badinage, for orchestra	5:02 min	Orchestral	1936
9	Pasquinade Symphonique No 1, Op 98	11:48 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	1935
10	Chinese Suite, for orchestra, Op. 95	10:31 min	Orchestral	1935
11	The Song of Ram Dass, for small orchestra	3:18 min	Orchestral	1935
12	Gipsy Czárdás (Tzigeuner), for violin & orchestra	6:37 min	Concerto	1935
13	Carnival, for orchestra	3:11 min	Orchestral	1934
14	Puppet Ballet Suite, for orchestra	14:58 min	Orchestral	1932
15	April - England, version for orchestra (Impressions of Time and Place No. 1), Op. 48/1	8:09 min	Orchestral	1932
16	Indian Suite, for orchestra	12:28 min	Orchestral	1932
17	Hellas	17:59 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	1932
18	Music-Pictures Group VII (Landscapes), for piano, Op.13	6:03 min	Keyboard	1927
19	Strophes from an Antique Song, for flute, oboe & orchestra	3:47 min	Concerto	1927
20	Dynamic Triptych, for piano & orchestra, Op. 88	27:31 min	Concerto	1927
21	Gandharva-Music, for piano	3:41 min	Keyboard	1926
22	April England, for piano	7:10 min	Keyboard	1926
23	Henry VIII Suite, for orchestra, Op. 87	10:50 min	Orchestral	1925
24	Hippolytus Prelude, for oboe & orchestra, Op. 84/1	3:48 min	Concerto	1925
25	The Florida Spiritual, for orchestra, Op. 71/1	4:01 min	Orchestral	1925
26	Music-Pictures Group VI (Gaelic Melodies),for piano, Op. 81	7:27 min	Keyboard	1924
27	A Gaelic Dream-Song, for orchestra, Op. 68	4:26 min	Orchestral	1922
28	La belle Pierrette, intermezzo impromptu for orchestra	4:20 min	Orchestral	1922
29	Le Cabaret, Overture to a French comedy, Op.72a	7:55 min	Orchestral	1921
30	Egoistic (Mode V L ). Essay in a Mode for Piano Solo without opus number	3:54 min	Keyboard	1920
31	Essays (7) in the Modes, for piano	28:17 min	Keyboard	192?
32	Lyra Celtica, concerto for voice & orchestra, Op. 50	16:19 min	Vocal Music	192?
33	Three Mantras from Avatara, for orchestra, Op. 61b	26:20 min	Orchestral	1919
34	A World Requiem, Op. 60	89:52 min	Choral	1918
35	Darby and Joan, idyll for orchestra, Op. 42/1	7:08 min	Orchestral	1916
36	Music-Pictures Group IV, suite for orchestra, Op. 55	10:56 min	Orchestral	1916
37	English Tune with Burden, for piano	5:03 min	Keyboard	1914
38	Miniature Suite, for orchestra, Op. 38	14:09 min	Orchestral	1913
39	Music-Pictures Group III, for orchestra, Op. 33	19:12 min	Orchestral	1912
40	Keltic Suite, for orchestra, Op. 29		Orchestral	1911
41	Mirage, for orchestra (Music Poem No. 5), Op. 20	24:18 min	Orchestral	1910
42	Concerto No.2 for cello & small orchestra in D minor, Op.19		Concerto	1910
43	Suite française, for orchestra, Op.22	17:37 min	Orchestral	1910
44	Apotheosis (Elegy), for violin & orchestra (Music Poem No. 4), Op. 18	11:22 min	Concerto	1909
45	Cello Concerto No. 1 in G major, Op. 17	36:18 min	Concerto	1908
46	Lento e Scherzetto, for cello & orchestra, Op. 12	12:47 min	Concerto	1906
47	The Vision of Dante Prelude, for orchestra	8:21 min	Orchestral	1905
48	Variations and Improvisations on an Original Theme, for piano, Op. 4	16:32 min	Keyboard	1901
49	Undine Suite, for orchestra, Op.3	19:21 min	Orchestral	1899
50	Yr Hyfryd Enw (How Sweet the Name)	3:16 min	Vocal Music	-
51	Aquarelles for string quartet, Op 32	13:02 min	Chamber Music	-
52	Sonata for cello & piano, Op. 6	26:37 min	Chamber Music	-
53	Saint Joan Suite, Op 82b	17:55 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
54	Quartetto Intimo for string quartet, Op 89	18:52 min	Chamber Music	-
55	Quartetto Geniale for string quartet, Op 97	7:41 min	Chamber Music	-
56	Dynamic Triptych for piano & orchestra		Concerto	-
57	April-Englind, for piano, Op. 48/1	7:10 min	Keyboard	-

Albums featuring John Foulds

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Bach / Foulds / Beethoven / Corigliano / Juan José Chuquisengo – Transcendent Journey(CD, Album, Reissue)	2014	Sony Classical
2	John Foulds, BBC Concert Orchestra Conducted By Ronald Corp – Volume 4 ∙ The Vison Of Dante Prelude ∙ Saint Joan Suite ∙ Lento E Scherzetto ∙ Puppet Ballet Suite ∙ Hippolytus Prelude ∙ Carnival And Other Works(CD, )	2014	Dutton Epoch
3	John Foulds - BBC Concert Orchestra , Conducted By Ronald Corp – Keltic Overture · Keltic Suite · Sicilian Aubade · Isles Of Greece · Suite Fantastique · Holiday Sketches · An Arabian Night(CD, Album, Stereo)	2010	Dutton Epoch
4	Foulds, Leon Botstein, BBC Symphony Orchestra – A World Requiem(2×SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album)	2008	Chandos
5	John Foulds, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo, Peter Donohoe – Dynamic Triptych, Music Pictures, April - England, Song Of Ram Dass, Keltic Suite(CD, Album)	2006	Warner Classics
6	John Foulds : Daniel Hope, Susan Bickley, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, City Of Birmingham Youth Chorus, Sakari Oramo – Mirage • Three Mantras • Lyra Celtica • Apotheosis(CD, Album)	2004	Warner Classics
7	John Foulds, Kathryn Stott – Piano Music(CD, Stereo)	1999	BIS
8	John Herbert Foulds, Ernest Walker (3), York Bowen, Jo Cole, John Talbot (4) – English Cello Sonatas(CD, Album)	1998	British Music Society
9	John Foulds, Endellion String Quartet – Chamber Music(CD, Album)	1993	Pearl
10	John Foulds, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth – Le Cabaret, Pasquinade Symphonique No.2, April-England, Hellas Suite, Three Mantras(CD, Compilation)	1993	Lyrita Recorded Edition
11	John Foulds, Peter Jacobs (4) – John Foulds: Seven Essays In The Modes(CD, Stereo)	1992	Altarus Records
12	Vaughan Williams / John Foulds, Howard Shelley, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley – Piano Concerto / Dynamic Triptych	1984	Lyrita Recorded Edition
13	John Foulds, Peter Jacobs (4) – Piano Music(LP, Stereo)	1984	Altarus Records
14	John Foulds, Endellion String Quartet – Quartetto Intimo Op. 89, Lento Quieto (From Quartetto Geniale, Op. 97), Aquarelles (Music – Pictures Group 2) Op. 32	1981	Pearl
15	Luxembourg Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leopold Hager, Hubert Parry / Havergal Brian / John Foulds – Masters Of The English Musical Renaissance(3×LP, Box Set, )	1981	Forlane
16	John Foulds, The BBC Concert Orchestra, Ronald Corp – Volume 3(CD, )	-	Dutton Epoch