George Walter Selwyn Lloyd

[1913-1998]



Contents:

Biography

GeorgeGeorge Walter Selwyn Lloyd – was the eldest son of Constance and William Alexander Charles Lloyd. He was born at the family home St Eia, which overlooked the sea at St Ives, Cornwall [28th June 1913].

He suffered from rheumatic fever and spent much of his childhood at home, often confined to bed and missing out on a formal education.

The family were musical – his father played the flute, and his mother played the violin – - and they had many musical friends who performed at St Eia.

He played the violin from the age of 5.

He decided to become a composer by the age of 14.

He and his father formed the New English Opera Company [1936].

The family moved to London where he studied composition with Harry Farjeon and the violin with Albert Sammons.

He wrote a biography of Bellini.

During World War II, he served as a bandsman with the Royal Marines. In 1942, he was aboard the cruiser HMS Trinidad on an Arctic convoy, when it misfired a torpedo which struck the ship. Many of his comrades were drowned in the oil from the ship's tanks, and he was one of the last to escape. HMS Trinidad was known as the ship that torpedoed itself.

He subsequently suffered severe physical and mental problems.

He went to Switzerland to recuperate and Nancy cared for him.

In 1951, he abandoned the musical world and started a market garden in Dorset, where he and his wife grew carnations and mushrooms.

Musical work which he sent to the BBC was returned. Conductors Charles Groves, Edward Downes and pianist John Ogdon regarded his work highly.

In 1937, he married Nancy Juvet [1913-1999] from Switzerland.

They had no children.

He died at University College Hospital, London [3rd July 1998].

He was cremated at Golders Green [10th July 1998].

Nancy survived George by 18 months

Compositions

Timeline

  1. 1932: Symphony #1 in A
  2. 1933: Symphony #2
  3. 1933: Symphony #3 in F
  4. 1934: Iernin
  5. 1938: The Serf
  6. 1941: HMS Trinidad
  7. 1946: Symphony #4 in B
  8. 1948: Symphony #5 in B flat
  9. 1951: John Socman
  10. 1956: Symphony #6
  11. 1959: Symphony #7
  12. 1961: Symphony #8
  13. 1963: Piano concerto #1
  14. 1964: Piano concerto #2
  15. 1966: An African Shrine
  16. 1968: Piano concerto #3
  17. 1969: Symphony #9
  18. 1969: Charade Suite
  19. 1970: Piano concerto #4
  20. 1970: Violin concerto #1
  21. 1970: Concerto for violin & strings
  22. 1971: Aubade
  23. 1972: The Road through Samarkand
  24. 1972: The Transformation of that Naked Ape
  25. 1972: Saint Anthony & the Bogside beggar
  26. 1972: The Aggressive Fishes
  27. 1972: The Lily-Leaf & the Grasshopper
  28. 1975: Lament, Air & Dance
  29. 1976: Sonata
  30. 1977: Violin concerto #2
  31. 1977: Concerto for violin & winds
  32. 1980: Pervigilium Veneris
  33. 1981: Symphony #10
  34. 1981: A Miniature Triptych
  35. 1982: In Memoriam
  36. 1984: Royal Parks Suite
  37. 1985: Symphony #11
  38. 1986: Diversions on a Bass Theme
  39. 1987: English Heritage
  40. 1987: The Forest of Arden
  41. 1987: Intercom Baby
  42. 1989: Symphony #12
  43. 1989: Eventide
  44. 1990: Le Pont Du Gard
  45. 1991: Evening Song
  46. 1992: A Symphonic Mass
  47. 1992: Dying Tree
  48. 1993: Floating Cloud
  49. 1993: King's Messenger
  50. 1995: Psalm 130
  51. 1995: A Litany
  52. 1995: Invocation to the Virgin Mary
  53. 1997: Cello concerto
  54. 1998: Requiem

Operas

Symphonies

Music for Bands

Choral works

Concertos

Music for piano

Music for violin

Complete List

An African Shrine
[1966] Duration: 23 mins [approx]

For piano. Written for John Ogdon

The Aggressive Fishes
[1972] Duration: 8 mins [approx]

For piano

Aubade
[1971] Duration: 38 mins [approx]

Suite for 2 pianos

Cello concerto
[1997] Duration: 28 mins [approx]

Charade Suite
[1969] Duration: 33 mins [approx]

Concerto for violin & strings
[1970]

Concerto for violin & winds
[1977]

Diversions on a Bass Theme
[1986] Duration: 11 mins [approx]

For brass band

Dying Tree
[1992] Duration: 10 mins [approx]

English Heritage
[1987] Duration: 16 mins 30 secs [approx]

For brass band

Evening Song
[1991] Duration: 11 mins 40 secs [approx]

For brass band

Eventide
[1989] Duration: 10 mins 46 secs [approx]

For 2 pianos

Floating Cloud
[1993] Duration: 16 mins [approx]

The Forest of Arden
[1987] Duration: 10 mins 30 secs [approx]

A symphonic sketch for concert band which was commission by the Solihull Youth Wind Band and the British Association of Symphonic Bands & Wind Ensembles

HMS Trinidad
[1941] Duration: 5 mins 30 secs [approx]

Military march for wind band or brass band

Iernin
[1934] Duration: 2½ hrs

He and his father wrote the libretto. First performed at the Pavilion, Penzance. This had a long run at the Lyceum in London

In Memoriam
[1982] Dedicated to the musicians of the Royal Green jackets who were killed and injured on 20th July 1982 when an IRA bomb exploded beneath the bandstand where they were giving a concert. 7 bandsmen died, 24 musicians and 4 civilians were injured

Intercom Baby
[1987] Duration: 8 mins 22 secs [approx]

For violin and piano

Invocation to the Virgin Mary
[1995] Duration: 7 mins 20 secs [approx]

For a capella chorus

John Socman
[1951] Duration: 2½ hrs

He and his father wrote the libretto. The story of a Wiltshire man who fought at Agincourt. This was commissioned for the Festival of Britain.

He abandoned writing operas after his experiences during World War II

See the WikiPedia summary

King's Messenger
[1993] Duration: 12 mins [approx]

Choral work / brass band

Lament, Air & Dance
[1975] Duration: 31 mins 30 secs [approx]

For violin & piano

Le Pont Du Gard
[1990] Duration: 10 mins [approx]

The Lily-Leaf & the Grasshopper
[1972] Duration: 11 mins 25 secs [approx]

For piano

A Litany
[1995] Duration: 51 mins [approx]

Choral work for soprano, chorus & orchestra commissioned by the Guildford Choral Society. Words by John Donne

A Miniature Triptych
[1981] Duration: 17 mins 30 secs [approx]

A brass quintet

Pervigilium Veneris
[1980] Duration: 78 mins [approx]

(The Vigil of Venus) It was first performed posthumously [2000]

Piano concerto #1
[1963] Duration: 25 mins [approx]

Scapegoat Concerto. Written for John Ogdon. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Charles Groves, gave the first performance of the Concerto with John Ogdon at the piano

Piano concerto #2
[1964] Duration: 33 mins [approx]

Piano concerto #3
[1968] Duration: 50 mins [approx]

Piano concerto #4
[1970] Duration: 37 mins [approx]

Psalm 130
[1995] Duration: 8 mins [approx]

For a capella chorus Invocation to the Virgin Mary [1995] A cappella SATB Duration: 7 mins 20 secs [approx]

Royal Parks (3) [1984] Standard British Brass Band Duration: 14 mins [approx]

Diversions on Bass Theme (2) [1986] Standard British Brass Band Duration: 11 mins [approx]

English Heritage (2) [1987] Standard British Brass Band Duration: 16 mins 30 secs [approx]

King's Messenger (4) [1993] Standard British Brass Band Duration: 12 mins [approx]

Evening Song (2) [1991] Standard British Brass Band Duration: 11 mins 40 secs [approx]

Forest of Arden (2) [1987] Wind Band Duration: 10 mins 30 secs [approx]

HMS Trinidad March (2) [1941] Wind Band or Brass Band Duration: 5 mins 30 secs [approx]

Aubade (1) [1971] 2 Pianos Duration: 38 mins [approx]

Lament, Air and Dance [1975] Violin & Piano Duration: 31 mins 30 secs [approx]

Sonata [1976] Violin & Piano Duration: 28 mins 39 secs [approx]

A Miniature Triptych (1) [1981] Brass Quintet 2 Trpt,Horn,Trbn,Tba Duration: 17 mins 30 secs [approx]

Eventide [1989] 2 Pianos Duration: 10 mins 46 secs [approx]

The Road Through Samarkand [1995] 2 Pianos Duration: 9 mins 38 secs [approx]

St. Antony & the Bogside Beggar [1972] Piano Duration: 7 mins 30 secs [approx]

The Lily Leaf and the Grasshopper [1972] Piano Duration: 11 mins 25 secs [approx]

An African Shrine [1966] Piano Duration: 23 mins [approx]

The Road Through Samarkand [1972] Piano Duration: 9 mins 12 secs [approx]

The Aggressive Fishes [1972] Piano Duration: 8 mins [approx]

Transformation of that Naked Ape [1972] Piano (Suite) Duration: 20 mins 45 secs [approx]

Intercom Baby [1987] Piano 8 mins 22

Requiem
[1998] Duration: 47 mins [approx]

Aka De Profundis.

For countertenor, small chorus & organ.

This was his last work [completed January 1998] and dedicated to Princess Diana. It was first performed posthumously [2000]

The Road through Samarkand
[1972] Duration: 9 mins 30 secs [approx]

For piano

Royal Parks Suite
[1984] Duration: 14 mins [approx]

For brass band

Saint Anthony & the Bogside beggar
[1972] Duration: 7 mins 30 secs [approx]

For piano

The Serf
[1938] Duration: 2½ hrs He and his father wrote the libretto. This was performed at the Royal Opera House.

Orchestral Suite No 1 [1997] was taken from the opera

Sonata
[1976] Duration: 28 mins 39 secs [approx]

For violin & piano

A Symphonic Mass
[1992] Duration: 61 mins [approx]

For chorus & orchestra

Symphony #1 in A
[1932] Duration: 25 mins [approx]

First performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in Penzance

Symphony #10
[1981] Duration: 29 mins [approx]

November Journeys

Symphony #11
[1985] Duration: 60 mins [approx]

Symphony #12
[1989] Duration: 41 mins [approx]

Symphony #2
[1933] Duration: 34 mins [approx]

First performed at Eastbourne

Symphony #3 in F
[1933] Duration: 23 mins [approx]

Symphony #4 in B
[1946] Duration: 65 mins [approx]

The Arctic Symphony in which he attempted to come to terms with his experiences during World War II. This was written whilst he was recuperating in Switzerland

Symphony #5 in B flat
[1948] Duration: 56 mins [approx]

In which he attempted to come to terms with his experiences during World War II. This was written whilst he was recuperating in Switzerland

Symphony #6
[1956] Duration: 23 mins [approx]

Performed at the BBC Proms [1981]

Symphony #7
[1959] Duration: 50 mins [approx]

Symphony #8
[1961] Duration: 46 mins [approx]

This was accepted by the BBC

Symphony #9
[1969] Duration: 28 mins [approx]

The Transformation of that Naked Ape
[1972] Duration: 20 mins 45 secs [approx]

Piano suite

Violin concerto #1
[1970] Duration: 28 mins [approx]

Violin concerto #2
[1977] Duration: 33 mins [approx]




© Malcolm Bull 2023
Revised 02:53 / 22nd February 2023 / 29474

Page Ref: MML521

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