David Matthews at 60: Visions of reality

Musical Times, Spring 2003 by Hyde, Thomas

FOR SOME, Matthews is a curious, but ultimately unimportant figure. In an age when stylistic self-consciousness and doubt have become almost part of the composer's personal make-up, a figure whose music does not seem to display those characteristics will arouse the suspicion that in someway he has retreated. But the example of Matthews's development is an important one. His achievement is to have produced highly crafted scores in traditional mediums like symphony and symphonic poem, demonstrating a rhythmic and melodic freshness without recourse to pastiche. It goes without saying that this is not the only path for a composer today, but all the matters here is that it is David Matthews's path and he has followed it consistently. Matthews has commented that there is `no substitute for real composition' and all composers would agree. The challenge is defining for oneself what 'real' composition is. David Matthews has worked out his own response to that challenge and in doing has created a fruitful dialogue with what he loves most. Thus, `his music radiates confidence in what he accepts and what he leaves behind.'14

Notes

1. Calum MacDonald: `David Matthews', in Classical Music (29 September 1990), pp.24-25.

2. Paul Griffiths: New sounds, new personalities: British composers of the 1980s (London: Faber & Faber, 1985), p.99.

3. Ivan Hewett: `The English romantic', in BBC Music Magazine (March 1993), pp.44-45.

4. David Matthews, in Brian Morton & Pamela Collins, edd.: Contemporary composers (Chicago & London: St James Press, 1992), p.632.

5. David Matthews: sleeve-notes to the BBC Symphony Orchestra recording (NMC D067).

6. September music was recorded by the Bournemouth Sinfonietta (Unicorn-Kanchana DKP(CD)9120).

7. The composer in conversation with the author (London, October 2002).

8.Griffiths: op.cit., p.97.

9. David Matthews: `Living traditions', in The Musical Times vol. 134 no. 1802 (April 1993), pp.189-91.

10. David Matthews, introducing his Fifth Symphony at the BBC Proms (Radio 3, 21 August 1999).

11. David Matthews's programme note to the Fourth Symphony, reproduced in the CD liner notes for the recording of the work (Collins Classics 20082).

12. The composer in conversation with the author (London, October 2002).

13. David Matthews: `The rehabilitation of the vernacular, in Music and the politics of culture, ed. Christopher Norris (London, 1989), p.246.

14. Robert Maycock in Fairest isle: BBC Radio 3 book of British music (BBC, 1995). p.115.

Thomas Hyde is a composer, currently based at the Royal Academy of Music.