Gardiner Overture to a comedy

 Day 127

Henry Balfour Gardiner

Overture to a comedy

Richard Hickox

Balfour Gardiner is known today mainly as the man who put up the funds for the first performance of Holst’s The Planets, and also as the Great Uncle of the conductor John Elliot Gardiner. He was quite an important figure in British musical life for a while, being a member of the so-called Frankfurt Gang, along with composers such as Percy Grainger and Roger Quilter.

The only piece of his I have heard before is the oddly named shepherd fennell’s  dance which was once a mainstay of light music concerts.  This overture is slightly more substantial. It starts out in typical British light music style but then expands its musical vocabulary to reflect the influence of Elgar and even Richard Strauss.  It lacks a ‘killer tune’ which would make it truly memorable - as it was it was an attractive listen and I particularly enjoyed the jokey ending where there is what seems to be the closing passage only for the music to start off again briefly with some music from the beginning before finally comes to a resounding end. 

Much of Gardiner’s music is lost and he gave up composing in mid life to concentrate on organic farming. He is only a footnote in musical history but a number of composers - not just Holst - were grateful for his financial support. So he deserves our thanks.