MS Mus. 423

MS Mus. 423. Alan Bush Collection. Vol. xcviii. Choral music; 1961-71.

ff. 67.

1. ff. 1-14. ‘Song of the Cosmonaut’ (words, Miles Tomalin), for baritone solo, mixed chorus and piano; 1961. Dedicated to Major Yuri Gagarin. Published Workers’ Music Association, 1961.

i. ff. 1-8. Score, in ink. Signed by Yuri Gagarin and dated 13 July 1961 (f. 1).

ii. ff. 9-11. Score, in ink. Only the first verse of the text is written.

iii. ff. 12-14. ‘Working orchestratation by the Composer’. Scoring of the chorus only, for flute, recorder, 2 oboes, 3 clarinets, 2 trombones, percussion, accordion and piano.

2. ff. 15-22. ‘During Music’ (words, Dante Gabriel Rossetti), part-song for unaccompanied mixed chorus, [op.62]; [1963]. Draft score, in pencil. Published Novello, as a supplement to The Musical Times, no.1454 (April 1964).

3. ff. 23-42. ‘Songs of Asian Struggle’, arranged for chorus and piano; [1969]. The fourth and fifth songs in this group, ‘The Jacket-Makers’ Song’ from North Vietnam and the ‘Chinese Students’ Song’ against the Japanese invaders of the 1930s, are not included.

i. ff. 24-9. ‘Polishing the Gun: Song of the Malayan Partisans’ (words and melody anonymous), arranged for unison chorus and piano. Draft score, in pencil (ff. 24-6); – score, in ink (ff. 27-9).

ii. ff. 30-31. ‘The Joy of Harvesting’ (words and music anonymous), for mixed chorus and piano. Photocopy of the score.

iii. ff. 32-5. ‘My Country in Captivity, Song of the Huk Partisans’ [of the Philippines], for mixed chorus and piano. ‘Composer unknown. The melody recorded on tape by Celia Pomeroy, at 27, Nassington Road, N.W.3. on September 5th, 1969. Arranged by Alan Bush. English version by Nancy Bush from a translation provided by Celia Pomeroy.’ (f. 32). Score and chorus part, both in ink.

iv. ff. 36-42. Additional Malayan folk-song arrangements for mixed chorus and piano, not included in the set of ‘Songs of Asian Struggle’. Draft scores, in pencil, without words. The songs are ‘Fighting Youth Song’ (ff. 37-8); – ‘Victory Celebration’ (ff. 39-40); – and ‘Red Flag Song’ (ff. 41-2).

4. ff. 43-67. ‘Men of Felling’ (words, Nancy Bush), for male chorus and piano, op.72; March 1971. Dedicated to the Felling Male Voice Choir.

i. ff. 43-59. Draft score, in pencil. With a typewritten copy of the words, heavily annotated by the composer (f. 44).

ii. ff. 60-67. Score, in ink. With a typewritten copy of the words (f. 61).

includes:

• ff. 1-14 Miles Tomalin, writer: Major Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin, cosmonaut: 'Song of the Cosmonaut' by A. D. Bush , to words by Miles Tomalin, dedicated to and signed by Maj. Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin: 1961.
• ff. 15-22 Dante Gabriel Rossetti, poet and painter: 'During Music', part-song by A. D. Bush , to words by Dante Gabriel Rossetti: [1963].
• ff. 32-5 Celia Pomeroy, wife of Bill Pomeroy: 'Song of the Huk Partisans' by A. D. Bush , based on a song recorded in the Philippines by Celia Pomeroy: 1969.
• ff. 32-5, 43-67 Nancy Rachel Bush, wife of Alan Bush, composer: Libretti, poems and translations, set to music by A. D. Bush: circa 1943-1986.
• ff. 43-67 Felling Male Voice Choir: 'Men of Felling', for male chorus and piano, by A. D. Bush , dedicated to the Felling Male Voice Choir: 1971.