1978 – Present
1958
The Rutland Boughton Trust was founded in 1958 by Rutland’s daughter Joy, to mark the 80th birthday of the composer. The purpose of the Trust was to pay tribute to the composer by performing his ‘Bethlehem’ in London, Aylesbury (his birth place) and Glastonbury.
At the time there were many subscribers to the Trust because there was a recognition that artists had been stimulated by Boughton’s Festivals of Glastonbury and the thousands of opera lovers who had enjoyed performances of ‘The Immortal Hour’, ‘Bethlehem’ and other operas.
1960
Rutland Boughton dies and leaves a will outlining the establishment of a trust to promote the recordings and performances of his work. Furthermore that in time the royalties are left to the PRS Musicians Benevolent Fund.
Time passes as the Music Trust is created.
1978
The Music Trust is legally formed and comprises Rutland’s offspring as Trustees. Michael Hurd (MH) becomes the music advisor for the Trust until his death in 2006.
1978
MH arranges for a centenary broadcast for the BBC lasting two hours and including extract from ‘The Immortal Hour’, ‘Bethlehem’, ‘Alkestis’, ‘The Queen of Cornwall’ and ‘The Lily Maid’.
1978
MH arranges a production of ‘Bethlehem’ in Hambledon and a centenary concert in Glastonbury and finishes the year with the BBC Welsh Orchestra and Janet Craxton playing the Oboe Concerto.
1979
Child of Earth a cycle of part songs – London performance arranged by MH.
1980
The BBC broadcast ‘The Immortal Hour’ and MH provides accompanying talks.
1983
The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra perform the Third Symphony in Manchester.
1983
Concert performance of ‘Bethlehem’ as part of Highnam Court Music Weekend- concert at Newent. MH provides a talk on Boughton for Finzi Trust Festival at Pembroke College, Oxford.
The aims for the Trust at this time were to record and produce on CD the following works:
- The Immortal Hour
- Symphony no. 2 ‘Deidre’ A Celtic Symphony
- Symphony no. 3 in B flat
- Bethlehem (the Coventry Nativity Play – set as a music drama
- The Queen of Cornwall – set as a music drama
- Concerto for Oboe and Strings No. 1 in C minor
1984
After six years of planning and fund raising the Trust and Hyperion perform and record ‘The Immortal Hour’ conducted by Alan Melville. See Discography.
1985
New York production of The Immortal Hour and revivals in 1986.
1985
Opera 70 performs the ‘The Lily Maid’ in Chichester. Opera 70 had the reputation for performances of rarely seen masterpieces. In response to the The British Music Society’s Project “British Music in Retrospect” Rutland Boughton’s The Lily Maid was selected.
1986
BBC performance of the Second Symphony.
1986
Peterborough Opera Company arranged to play piano performances of “The Immortal Hour”.
1986
MH includes Boughton songs in Australian (ABC) broadcasts on English song.
1986
The Trust starts fundraising for the recording of Bethlehem.
1987
BBC Radio 3 plays Rutland Boughton Songs – Songs of Womanhood and Edward Carpenter Songs.
1989
Trumpet Concerto performed by John Wallace in Cupar, Fife. World premiere performance. The score for this work has been transcribed to Sibelius Software and is available to purchase from www.brasswindpublications.co.uk
1990
Clarks of Somerset make generous donation to the Trust to assist funding the production and recording of Bethlehem. There were many donors towards this project.
1993
Michael Hurd’s book ‘Rutland Boughton and the Glastonbury Festivals’ published by Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-816316-9 – It was republished in 2014 with extra photographs. Copies are available to purchase through the Trust.
1993
Hyperion records ‘Bethlehem’ on 25-27th July. See Discography.
1994
Cheltenham Festival Committee – Symbol Songs performed as part of the programme.
1994
Julliard Opera Centre, New York recorded the Immortal Hour.
1995
Plans for an RB Glastonbury festival celebrating 70 years since the original festival ended in 1926.
1995
The BBC broadcast the entire performance of the Immortal Hour.
1995
Sonata for violin and piano performed by Camerata Duo in St Alban’s.
1995
3rd Symphony conducted by Peter Craddock and the Havant Symphony Orchestra.
1995
Bethlehem performed by St Albans’s chamber opera.
1996
Concerto for flute and strings performed by Portsmouth New Music Orchestra.
1996
Glastonbury Arts Festival – celebrating 70 years since Rutland Boughton’s festival.
1997
Hyperion releases ‘String Quartets/Oboe Quartet No.1’ on CD. See Discography.
1997
Plans for Queen of Cornwall recording are underway.
1997
Bournemouth Sinfonietta agree to the world premiere performance of the String Concerto.
1999
Helios releases ‘Symphony No.3 /Oboe Concerto’ on CD. See Discography.
1999
The Trust raises monies for Hyperion to record and produce the Flute Concerto/Aylesbury Games.
2000
Hyperion releases Flute Concerto/ Aylesbury Games on CD. London Orchestra. See Discography.
2000
Plans on hold for producing the Queen of Cornwall. Significant funds need to be raised (c.£50,000)
2001
Fund raising begins in earnest and donations are received.
2003
Recording of trumpet concerto for BBC broadcast and commercial release – Philip Lane.
2003
2nd Oboe Concerto performed by the Chichester Singers.
2004
British Music Society sponsor the performance and recording of ‘The Songs of Rutland Boughton’. Dinmore Records. See Discography.
2006
Dutton Vocalian sponsorship of Symphony No. 1 Oliver Cromwell. BBC Concert Orchestra
2006
The trust worked with Hyperion Helios and the Rasumovsky Quartet to record and produce the String Quartet No. 1 in A major and String Quartet No.2 in F major. See Discography.
2006
Michael Hurd dies and leaves a significant legacy to the Trust to pursue it’s aims.
2010
Sufficient funds are raised to perform and record and produce the Queen of Cornwall. New London Orchestra conducted by Ronald Corp. See Discography.
2010
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra records Love and Spring, one of three short orchestral tone poems made by Dutton Epoch. Conducted by Martin Yates. See Discography.
2011
In July the Trust and Dutton Epoch record a selection of orchestral works associated with British conductor Sir Dan Godfrey including Rutland Boughton’s own arrangement of The Love Duet from his music-drama The Immortal Hour. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra made the recording. See Discography.
2012
Rutland’s music is played at the 6th English Music Festival – The Three Folk Dances, the Faery Song and the part song, Sir Galahad.
2012
Planning for a semi staged production of The Immortal Hour in Glastonbury for 2014 to mark the centenary of the establishment of the annual Glastonbury Festivals.
2012
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra present of programme of English Music including Arnold, Elgar, Williams and Rutland’s first public performance (in a hundred years) of Love and Spring. It was written in 1906 and first heard at the Halford Concert Society and later 1914 at a Henry Wood Promenade.
2013
The Trust arrange to get Good Music Publishing to produce for sale the Love and Spring and the Queen of Cornwall and the 2 String Quartets.
The music is for sale via: www.goodmusicpublishing.co.uk
2014
English Music Festival – symphonic poem Troilus and Cressida performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra under Martin Yates.
2014
Marking the centenary of the start of the Glastonbury festivals the Finborough theatre, London performs the Immortal Hour during August.
2017
The Trust and Oboe Classics collaborate to record and produce Rutland’s various oboe works including quartets 1 and 2. See Discography.
2018
The RAF Central Band approach the Trust to play Rutland’s music at a centenary concert at Milfield school. The ‘March of the British’ arranged by Thomas Hewitt Jones. The concert is performed by the Central Band and conducted by Chris I’Anson in December.
2019
The trust moves on a generation and is now managed by two of Rutland’s great grandchildren in collaboration with Rutland’s remaining son, Brian.
2019
All of Rutland’s known music in hard copy is loaned to the Royal College of Music under the care and stewardship of the Head Librarian, Peter Linnitt. Music can be hired from the RCM.
For enquiries regarding hiring the music please contact us.
2020
Plans for new projects are on hold during the Corona virus pandemic.
2021
Brian Boughton steps down as a trustee. Gregory Herbert (Rutland’s great grandson) joins as a trustee.