Ketelbey In a Monastery Garden

Light Classical Music/ Orchestral

In a Monastery Garden is a piece of light classical or semi-classical music composed by Albert  Ketèlbey (born Augsut 9, 1875 - died November 26, 1959), an English composer, conductor and pianist, best known for his short pieces of light orchestral music. He was born in Birmingham and moved to London in 1889 to study at Trinity College of Music, however, he did not pursue the classical career, instead became director of the Vaudeville Theatre before gaining fame as a composer of light music and conductor of his own works.



Albert Ketèlbey's In a Monastery Garden, surprisingly, has been performed only once at the Proms in London's Royal Albert Hall, and the above video is that one performance, given on the 2009 'Last Night at the Proms' by the BBC Symphony Orchestra (BBCSO ) and BBC Symphony Chorus, under conductor David Robertson, current artistic director of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO). As you'll hear, Ketèlbey was "tweeting" long before 'Twitter' was invented!

Ketèlbey composed this music in 1915 after a visit to a real monastery garden. It became especially successful when performed by Ronnie Ronalde professional name of Ronald Charles Waldron), a British music hall singer famous for his voice, in particular, whistling and yodelling, and imitation of bird song and stage personality.  Ronalde often performed Ketèlbey's In a Monastery Garden as his finale and sold over a million recordings.


Highly Recommended Listening:

Ketèlbey conducts his In a Monastery Gardens, with his Concert Orchestra. Nellie Walker, contralto Recorded in 1927. Youtube, uploaded by 2ndviolinist. Accessed August 9, 2017.


Video Credit:

Ketèlbey 'In a Monastery Garden' - David Robertson at the Proms. Youtube, uploaded by adam28xx. Accessed August 9, 2017. 


Resources:

Albert Ketèlbey. en.wikipedia.org.

In a Monastery Garden. en.wikipedia.org.   



(c) August 9, 2017. Tel. Inspired Pen Pen. All rights reserved.