Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Dyson the Fire Watcher

Donald Macleod focuses on Dyson's activities during World War II. Including Violin Concerto (excerpts); Quo vadis (excerpt); Concerto da camera (excerpt).

Celebrated composer, broadcaster, teacher, and author of the first manual on hand grenade use, this week Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Sir George Dyson.

Donald Macleod, in the company of biographer, Paul Spicer, visits the Royal College of Music, an institution George Dyson as then Director, insisted remained open during World War II. Dyson had been appointed to the post in the late 1930s and had instigated a number of immediate changes to raise the profile and standard of the RCM. One of the compositions he was working on during this productive period was his Violin Concerto, which was completed in 1941, the same year Dyson received his Knighthood.

During WWII life continued at the Royal College of Music, although on a reduced scale. There were now fewer students which impacted upon the colleges finances, but Dyson repeatedly applied for grants from the government and was successful. Dyson also lived at the college during the war, taking his turn with staff and students to man the nightly fire watch on the roof of the college. In February 1941, the college took a direct hit by a bomb which badly damaged the opera school, destroying many valuable historic costumes. Despite all these concerns Dyson was still composing, including his large-scale work for four soloists, choir and orchestra, Quo Vadis.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Sir George Dyson

    Concerto for violin and orchestra

    Performer: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox. Performer: Lydia Mordkovitch.
    • CHANDOS : CHAN-9369.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 3.
  • Sir George Dyson

    Concerto da camera for string orchestra

    Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • CHANDOS : CHAN-9076.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 6.
  • Sir George Dyson

    O Praise God in His Holiness for choir and orchestra

    Performer: Jonathan Rennert. Performer: Thomas Trotter. Choir: St. Michael’s Singers.
    • Hyperion: CDH55046.
    • Hyperion.
    • 7.
  • Sir George Dyson

    Quo vadis - a cycle of poems for soloists chorus and orchestra

    Singer: Roderick Williams. Orchestra: Â鶹Éç National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Richard Hickox. Choir: Â鶹Éç National Chorus of Wales. Choir: Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama Chamber Choir.
    • CHANDOS : CHAN-10061.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 3.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 2 Oct 2014 12:00
  • Thu 2 Oct 2014 18:30

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.