William Henry Fry (August 10, 1813 -- December 21, 1864)
Work: Macbeth - Ouverture (1864)
 |
| William Henry Fry, music editor of the New York Tribune, according to Library of Congress description - identification is possibly incorrect ("identifications of Ripley and Fry are based on their inclusion in Brady's list and resemblance to identified portraits of them as much older men" http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c10182). (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Conductor: Tony Rowe
Fry wrote his Overture to Macbeth in 1864, the last year of his life. There was no written record if there was a performance of this, although some say it was Fry's best work. It has an exciting overture in the big romantic style, and fully deserves to be established in the repertoire.
Fry again uses his instrumental text declamations, the most obvious right at the beginning, The words are from Act IV, but hang over the whole work as Fry telescopes the action' the trombones and tuba take on the role of the witches'. Double, double toil and trouble, Fire bum and cauldron bubble..' Next from Act I, as Macbeth approaches, the brass choir salutes with the witches' first haunting words to him: 'All hail Macbeth!' And again, the trumpet sounds the ironic prophecy. 'Be bloody, bold' and resolute.for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth,' the bewitched trombones punctuate the bloody course of Macbeth's deeds, and the overture rushes toward the final battle and his demise. The orchestra ends with its proclamation of the rightful heir 'Long Live King Malcolm!'
