Arthur Dennington (12 August 1904 – 16 May 1988) was a British conductor and composer.[1]

Life and career

Arthur Dennington was born in London. He studied music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the King's College London.[2] After his studies he started to conduct several small orchestral groups in various institutes and schools in Northern London. In 1931 Arthur Dennington combined these different ensembles and formed the Modern Symphony Orchestra.

The name 'Modern' was agreed on to indicate that this was to be something new in the way of amateur orchestras, to attempt little known works and to encourage young wind players.[3]

An amateur orchestra, the ensemble played music from wide spectrum of styles and musical periods, and the Musical Express stated that "in their best moments they give no indication of their amateur status."[4] Dennington conducted the orchestra in performances at the Northern Polytechnic Theatre in London.[5] For the next 44 years, until 1975, Arthur Dennington was the main conductor of the Modern Symphony Orchestra which took an important part in the orchestral landscape of London.

Many a composer, famous and unknown, has had cause for many years to be grateful to Arthur Dennington and his brave band for rehearsing and performing their works. (Burnett James, music critic)[6]

During his years with the Modern Symphony Orchestra Arthur Dennington conducted several world and English premieres of compositions, for example the world premieres of the Horn and Violin concertos by Ruth Gipps, or the English premieres of the Symphonie concertante by Frank Martin, the Guitar concerto by Stephen Dodgson or the first public performance of the Piano concerto by Alan Bush.[7] In a 1949 review of the orchestra's world premiere of Ian Parrott's Scherzo for Orchestra, music critic Malcolm Rayment wrote:

"If Arthur Dennington can make such an orchestra as this sound like a professional orchestra, one wonders what results he might achieve with a first-class orchestra."[8]

In 1960 he conducted the orchestra in the world premiere of the opera Mary Barton by composer Arnold Cooke.[9] He also conducted several operas at Islington Town Hall including Gian Carlo Menotti's The Consul (1963[10]) and Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata (1969[11]).

Arthur Dennington also recorded several LPs with little known orchestral repertoire for the Rare Recorded Editions label, for example four volumes of ouvertures by Daniel Auber.

In 1981 Arthur Dennington received an Honorary Fellowship of the Polytechnic Northern London University.[3]

Besides his work as a conductor of the Modern Symphony Orchestra Arthur Dennington was also a composer and created several chamber and orchestral works.[2] He died in Walmer, aged 83.

References

  1. ↑ Obituary index : 1988 obituary index, Notes (Music Library Association), 1989, page 723
  2. 1 2 Townend, Peter (1962): Who's Who in Music: and musicians' international directory. London: Burke's Peerage. OCLC 733096859.
  3. 1 2 article in the Polytechnic of North London University house journal „Pipeline“ from January 1982 (no. 27)
  4. ↑ Malcolm Rayment (12 December 1947). "Talking About Music: Introducing the Modern Symphony Orchestra". Musical Express (62): 3.
  5. ↑ "CONCERTS OF THE WEEK: MODERN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA". The Observer. 16 July 1939. p. 12.
  6. ↑ interview between music critic Burnett James and pianist Joyce Hatto in June 1973, see: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/feb03/Hatto.htm
  7. ↑ Annual Reports of the Polytechnic of North London University
  8. ↑ Malcolm Rayment (30 December 1949). New Ian Parrott Work. p. 2. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  9. ↑ Colin Mason (28 March 1960). Four fragments from a new opera. p. 5. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  10. ↑ "CHIT CHAT: The Consul". The Stage and Television Today (4311): 8. 28 November 1963.
  11. ↑ "Bruford play; Modern Symphony Orchestra under Arthur Donnington with La Campagnia dele Opera". The Stage and Television Today (4580): 15. 23 January 1969.
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