W.R. Driffill

[Guest]

Can anyone here tell me more about W.R. Driffill. Things like year and place of birth (and death). And what type of composer he was (barok, romantic)?

[soubasse32]

Re: W.R. Driffill



Welcome to the Organ Forum. [:)]</P>


A discussion about this composer has come up before; it makes me wonder who this fellow is, since I have never encountered him before!</P>


An Internet search reveals the dates of (1883-1916). </P>


[Edit]:I found another website which states: Driffill, William Ralph c1870-?1922 England,? / New Barnet / Barnet Vale - ?,? organist, active 1883-1916. It iscurious that I'mseeing many references of(1883-1916) and at least two of (1870-1922) in an Internet search. If you wish to continue searching you may at last find the truth.</P>


Having not heard his music I can only assume that the Toccata is a late romantic work.</P>


Since this is such an enigmatic composer I am curious to know how you became aware of him?</P>

[Clarion]

Re: W.R. Driffill

Never hear of W.R. Driffill. He didn't manage to make the top 40,000 famous people listed in Webster's Biographical Dictionary. Neither did I. [:$]

[tumult_in_the_praetorium]

Re: W.R. Driffill

http://www.bardon-music.com/music.ph...n&amp;curr=eur

You can see a sample page of his Toccata on the site above, as well as listen to a MIDI file of the entire work. I believe some of his other compositions are featured.

[Clarion]

Re: W.R. Driffill



[quote user="tumult_in_the_praetorium"]You can see a sample page of his Toccata on the site above, as well as listen to a MIDI file of the entire work.[/quote]</P>


Sounds like a score written to accompany an old silent horror movie. [:O]Great background mood music for Hallowe'en party.</P>

[Guest]

Re: W.R. Driffill

[quote user="soubasse32"]


An Internet search reveals the dates of (1883-1916). </P>


[Edit]:I found another website which states: Driffill, William Ralph c1870-?1922 England,? / New Barnet / Barnet Vale - ?,? organist, active 1883-1916. It iscurious that I'mseeing many references of(1883-1916) and at least two of (1870-1922) in an Internet search. If you wish to continue searching you may at last find the truth.</P>


[/quote]</P>


I've searched the internet too. I also find the different years (1870-1922 and 1883-1916). I did not know which were the right date. I supposed that the last range were his active years as an organist, as you say.</P>


[quote user="soubasse32"] </P>


Since this is such an enigmatic composer I am curious to know how you became aware of him?</P>


[/quote]</P>


The Toccata you refer to have I heard on CD. (Clarion, on this CD it's sounds much better then the midi). Maybe I will play this piece of music on my next exam. So I was curious who this William Ralph Diffill was.</P>

[Guest]

Re: W.R. Driffill



Who was William Ralph Driffill?</P>


He was my grandfather, born in 1875 in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. The only son of William and Maria (nee Potter), has father owned a thriving plumbing business in Dunstable. He was a student at the Royal Academy of Music where he recieved various medals for his playing and composition. He then became organist for the parish church of Monken Hadley, Hertfordshire, where he also undertook to tutor private students, conucted choirs as well as composing and performing concerts throughout the south of England. He was often accompanied by his cousin Frederick Gostelow.</P>


He married Kate Prior in 1908 and his eldest daughter was born in 1914.</P>


He died suddenly in 1922 from pneumonia, 6 months before my mother was born. The family went into shocked, prolonged mourning and all his music was put away until my aunt died in 1998. My mother inherited the boxes but did nothing with them. I have them now, they include a lot of parlour songs as well as, church music and some unfinished manuscripts.</P>


I had never heard any of his music until I found a recording by Jan Klaus Muller of his Toccata, and I have only just found some new pieces performed by Bardon Music. I would be really pleased to hear more of his compositions played, there do seem to be quite a few published scores out there as well as the onesI have. It is only down to the internet that I have been able to find out more about him, it is a shame that my mother did not live to hear his work but if more people played his pieces in public then his talents would become more well known. They may not all be great works but I think they deserve more promotion.</P>
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[soubasse32]

Re: W.R. Driffill



Welcome to the Forum! [:)]</P>


We are honored to have a relative of a composer grace us witha visit. Are you a musician as well?</P>


It is very good to have more background biographical information on this composer; especially since organists are beginning to become aware of him.</P>


Thanks again for this information - perhaps Bardon Music would also be interested in having a complete biography.</P>


I hope you keep in touch with us.</P>

[Guest]

Re: W.R. Driffill

Argentine-American recitalist Hector Olivera regularly performs the Toccata for Organ by Ralph Driffill in concert. You can hear him in an upcoming PIPEDREAMS program, with audio available 24/7 online after April 14 at http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/listings/2009/0915/

[Kathan]

Re: W.R. Driffill



Speaking of Hector Olivera, he will be in concert at Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive, St paul, Minnesota next Friday April 17th at 7:30 PM for those of you who are within driving distance of the Twin Cities. Free and no tickets required. Maybe he will play the Toccata.</P>


Kathan</P>

[Kathan]

Re: W.R. Driffill



I attended the Hector Olivera Concert tonite and thought it was wonderful. From what you people have said, he was true to form and played the Toccata by William Ralph Driffill. First on the program. Then...</P>


Air from Suite #3 by Bach</P>


Trumpet Tune/Air/Volentary Clark/Purcell</P>


Prelude, Fugue, and Variation Franck</P>


Prelude, and Fugue in E flat "St Anne's" Bach</P>


Toccata Canzona and Fugue on: Hans Friedrich Micheelsen</P>


Es Sungen drei Engel</P>


Then he played one of his compositions that he didn't name.</P>


Then he was to play a Improvisation on a submitted theme ( I didn't stay for that one cause my husband likes to get out early to miss all the traffic and there were a lot of people there. More than I have seen in a long time except for Diane Bish last year.</P>


Of course, Michael Barone was there as the emcee.</P>


Kathan</P>