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Dr Alun Hoddinott CBE - Obituary |
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It is with deep sadness I report the death of Dr. Alun Hoddinott, C.B.E., the Welsh composer and academic. He was born in Bargoed, Glamorganshire in 1929 and learned to play the violin at an early age, but soon moved to the outskirts of Swansea when his father became headmaster of a local school. He always confessed he had the good fortune to attend Gowerton Boys’ Grammar School, where he came under the influential guidance of the enthusiastic, talented and skilful music master, Mr Cynwyd Watkins, who in turn was so proud of his protégé. Alun gained priceless musical experiences at the school, which, prior to peripatetic instrumental teaching, was way ahead of its time, with only Mr Watkins to guide and assist his young charges, including the encouragement of pupils compositions, which Alun soon excelled in! In fact, the school is very proud of the number of high profile musicians they have helped develop (including current chart-topping Karl Jenkins).
Alun attended the very first residential course of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales in 1946 – the world’s first National Youth Orchestra. I first met Alun when I was a first year pupil at Gowerton School and was in awe of this iconic figure, when, visiting the school he attended one of my music lessons to inform his mentor that his Clarinet Concerto was to be premiered at the Cheltenham Festival. Little did I realise at that tender age that I was to become a student of his at Cardiff University many years later and then a friend of his - and his wife Rhiannon – when, on his retirement he was to move to within two miles of my house. We often met for a social evening over a meal and a good bottle of wine (or two).
Obituaries in the major national newspapers have mentioned his importance as the most admired of British composers of his generation, listing his major achievements. However, they failed to mention his brass band output and on behalf of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales I wish to rectify that. The band’s administrator, Keith Griffin, reminds me that…. “Alun was the inspirational Professor of Music at Cardiff University, where students had the regular experience of meeting major contemporary musicians, e.g. Benjamin Britten, Peter Maxwell Davies, Tippett, Dankworth, Ogden, Rostrapovich, Previn, etc. He established the Cardiff Festival of 20th Century Music which introduced a wide variety of contemporary works to the public. His interest in orchestral colour is well documented, but it was something of a challenge for him to write his first work for brass band - a medium he approached with some puzzlement, but with growing respect for the technical ability of the members of the NYBBW. His encouragement at rehearsals and concerts was very much appreciated by the young performers”.
Alun’s first composition for the NYBBW was Fanfare with Variants (1985) and I remember the musical director, Professor Edward Gregson, being greatly impressed with the colours he managed to extract from the brass band which had hitherto not been heard. This was followed by Welsh Dances (1987); Symphony No 8 (1992) for brass & percussion; Percussion Concerto (2000); Concerto Grosso (2004) for brass ensemble and brass band. Dr. Hoddinott also wrote a Trumpet Concerto (The Shining Pyramid) for my son Gareth Small, which he premiered at St David’s Hall, Cardiff, on the last night of the Welsh Proms in 1995, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes and accompanied by the Hallé Orchestra. Alun said he was…. “greatly impressed with Gareth’s stunning, virtuoso performance”… of this wonderful concerto – so much so, he was invited to perform it again at Alun’s 70th birthday tribute, with the orchestra of the Royal Welsh College of Music, Cardiff, during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the College. In 2005 the NYBBW commissioned a brass band transcription of this concerto and Gareth was invited to be the soloist once more. Alun cherished his liaison with the NYBBW, so it was no coincidence that he was the first major composer to write a Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra, an instrument which he enjoyed for its tonal colour and versatility – and, of course, the musical ability of David Childs, for whom the concerto was written. David gave the world premiere in the 2004 BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London – I was present at this magnificent performance and I know Alun was thrilled with David’s outstanding virtuosity.
Alun was most innovative when he took over the Chair at the University and each year he invited the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra (which I played for at that time), along with their resident conductor (John Carewe) to perform students’ compositions – giving both composers and performers the opportunity of discussing each composition. This proved to be most helpful to all those young composers, for in the 1960’s there was no other way of hearing your music played, unlike today, with the aid of computers and the Sibelius music programme.
Alun was a lovely man, generous in every sense of the word – with his time, his talent, his humour and his friendship. His loss leaves a great void in music, not only in Wales, but internationally as well. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him - I certainly feel all the better for having known him. Alun leaves a wife, Rhiannon, and a son, Ceri.
Tony Small, March 2008.
(Chairman of the NYBBW; Musical Director of Penclawdd Brass Band; Recently retired music teacher, Gowerton School.) |