Scott: Lotus Land

Day 130

Cyril Scott: Lotus Land

Percy Grainger

Cyril Scott was  another member of the Frankfurt gang, several of whose members have featured (or will later) in this series.  Like most of the other members he was a slight odd figure, with, in his case, an interest in alternative medicine and the occult. His vast output is almost completely forgotten. This short piano piece is his most famous work. It is the only recording of his music I have in my collection. The performance is by Percy Grainger - the one member of the gang whose music has remained at all well known.

Lotus Land, from 1905, had a great vogue in the early years of the last century, mainly because it was taken up by the violinist Fritz Kreisler, who made an arrangement for violin and piano. To me it sounded as if a talented pianist familiar with the work of Debussy had sat down at the piano and improvised in a vaguely impressionistic style. It was quite attractive to listen to but rather cliched, without any real musical individuality of its own.  To me it was an interesting novelty but no more. I can’t imagine wanting to spend any more time with Cyril Scott, though perhaps buried in his vast output there might be things worth listening to.  But I am not tempted to take the time to find out.