Brockless might not be a name that resonates with everyone today. The British conductor, composer and educator wrote multiple works, varying in genre, form and scale — yet much of his music remained neglected after his death. His 1995 obituary in The Independent reflected the limited legacy of compositions for which he was remembered. Now, for the first time, a broad and substantial recorded survey of his music is released by Toccata Classics; Brian Brockless: An English Elegy – Vocal and Instrumental Music. A collection of works for strings and piano, sacred choral music and organ, many of which receive their first recordings, An English Elegy is a fantastic illustration of the diversity and richness of Brockless’s music and its place within the English musical tradition. The project came to life through the labour of love of the composer’s son, Adrian.
Adrian Brockless
Brockless’s contribution to English musical culture was considerable. He conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Northern Sinfonia and was Musical Director of the London Schubert Orchestra. For many years, he was also Director of Music at St Bartholomew-the-Great in the City of London. He was Professor of Harmony and Orchestration at the Royal Academy of Music and later worked at the University of Surrey, where he became its first Musical Director. The extent of his compositional output remained hidden; largely unpublished and unrecorded. It was not until Adrian decided to dedicate a portion of his own life to months of selecting and transcribing, editing and arranging the music for performance and recording that these sleeping works took on a new life. For this recording, Adrian is joined by singers and performers including Henry McGray, Naomi Kilby, David Smith, the Brockless Centenary Strings and the Brockless Centenary Vocal Quartet.
An English Elegy for Strings by Brian Brockless
What first strikes the listener when discovering An English Elegy is the diversity of Brockless’s music. The opening “Toccata for an Occasion”, for instance, is bright and incredibly modern, balancing energetic moments with calmer, more unsettling ones.
Toccata for An Occasion by Brian Brockless
Later on, “Toccatina upon Tallis’ 9th Tune”, composed eight years afterwards, carries on the same energy. Through the polyphony of the organ, the piece brings the music back into a more traditional environment, despite its very modern musical language. It follows the short “9th Tune” by Tallis, on which Brockless’s organ work is based. Brockless’s music also has a strong focus on vocal works, with short pieces such as “May the Grace”, the sacred “Prayer for a Choir Boy” and “Prayers”. The “Missa brevis” — which takes inspiration from earlier polyphonic works — is another highlight, with its intertwining vocal lines.
The French Suite for Piano takes the form of a Baroque dance suite, yet it is definitely Brockless-esque, belonging to twentieth-century England through its own harmonic language. These pieces altogether highlight another strong quality of Brockless’s music: its Englishness. In addition to the English Elegy for String Orchestra — which gives the album its name —, there are the musical settings of three poems by the English poet Shelley. “Orion”, the author’s favourite piece in this collection, takes inspiration from the patterns of the constellation of the same name, transferred onto manuscript paper and developed into a musical motif. Last but not least, Adrian’s “Berceuse” is a beautiful piece worth mentioning, carrying both elements of nostalgia and the sweetness associated with childhood.
An English Elegy offers an opportunity to (re)discover a composer whose output remained largely unknown for decades. Much like the music of Elgar or Britten, Brockless’s work can contribute to our understanding of the English compositional modern tradition. Through Adrian’s dedication, these works can finally reach a wider audience, enriching the legacy of English composers and allowing Brockless’s own contribution to be appreciated on its own merits.
Adrian Brockless | philosopher
Brian Brockless: An English Elegy – Vocal and Instrumental Music
Henry McGray, treble; Naomi Kilby, soprano; Brockless Centenary Strings; Brockless Centenary Vocal Quartet; David Smith, piano; Adrian Brockless, piano and organ
Toccata Classics TOCC0823
Release date: 6 November 2026
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