I wonder if anyone else heard this piece by Sir Anthony Hopkins on R3 this morning?

It was on at about 8.10a.m and I have to say I was underwhelmed. Not that I could do any better, but then I wouldn't have put it forward for publication either.

The presenter told us that Sir A.H was a skilled musician and composer; I don't know which instrument(s) he plays.

There was a good deal of percussiveness and swirling woodwind in the opening sequence and then it gave way to a choral part with orchestral harmony, and this was much better - a little suggestive of Holst, I thought, but then back came the percussion.

If the CBSO made it sound like a Junior school concert then I think it must be the arrangement at fault.

I wonder if I am being hyper-critical? Would this orchestra have performed and recorded the piece (now in the R3 charts!) if anyone less celebrated had composed it?

I heard it and didn't think much of it. There were only about 1 1/2 musical ideas in it and they didn't go anywhere - it all felt very static. The orchestral effects didn't make up for its lack of substance.

It felt a bit like a 20th-C version of Leopold Mozart's Toy Symphony.

I honestly do think I could have done better myself - except that it wouldn't have been worth the effort.

I've heard this and was equally underwhelmed.

The trouble is, this is what appeals in the UK (certainly to publishers, performers, academics etc., not necessarily listeners), and that's not just the composer's 'name' (the fact that R3 played it is a good indication of this). For those of us who write accessible, tuneful music, this is why there is no interest in the UK. 99% of my royalties come from the US, but then again, out of 100 pieces 'in print', only 15 are published in the UK. In the US, they're not particularly interested in the 'name', and they're not bothered about music having to continually push boundaries. If I wrote (which I keep threatening to do) my concerto for empty wheelie bin, doormat and box of nails, it would be snapped up in no time in the UK!

This piece is a good example of being judged on the 'name', not on the music itself.

Sorry, rant over

You've rescored it? I thought you were doing it for wheelie bin, upturned piano and drawing pin?

It's YOU who pinched our wheelie bin!

Just following the demand of the market

Didn't hear it on R3, but Classic FM have been showing interest in it as well. Equally undwerwhelmed: I was already thinking if this was piece by me would it get any air time? I think we know the answer to that one

Is this the same Anthony Hopkins who years ago did a series on radio "Talking About Music" - to which as an A Level music student I was, at the time, absolutely glued. Does anyone know?

This one's the actor; who is doing for composition what Hannibal Lector did for Prison Visitors.

I don't know if he ever did a series on music on the radio, though.

No - that was Antony Hopkins. I too loved Talking About Music - always so interesting and informative, delivered in a gorgeous voice.

Thank you mcm and thanks for the link. Yes, the voice was very attractive. I think I might chase up one or two of his books. His talks certainly taught me a lot about music when I was in the sixth form.

I remember Antony Hopkins coming to watch some classes of mine many moons ago.

I wasn't too scared because I didn't know who he was ! I remember the classes included Dickie Attenborough's grandson and Midge Ure's/Annabelle Giles' daughter though...