Chairman and Trustees Report for 2021
The main part of my report this year is to provide updates on the progress of the many projects currently underway.
First the Orchestral Project. As David Lane (Vice-Chairman) has been the prime motivator and executor of this project I have asked him if he will address the meeting:
David confirmed that the BBC Concert Orchestra recorded all the music for the CD at the Watford Colosseum in January 2022. A set of audio files (the first edit) of the tracks was sent to the Society in February, which on the whole are excellent, although there is some disappointment regarding the soprano voice. The notes for the CD booklet have been written and John Mitchell (Hon. Treasurer) has compiled and edited the text. It is hoped that the CD will be released before Christmas.
I can add to David’s report that the initial intention of including Warlock’s arrangements of the Six English Tunes on the CD had to be abandoned due to the running time of all the other music, which constituted a full CD. However, having explained to the BBC Producer that there are a sufficient number of PW’s orchestral arrangements of early music to fill another CD, his response to the idea was very positive. We hope that in due course there will be a Peter Warlock and the Orchestra Vol.2 .
David Good of Goodmsuic Publishing is very keen to publish the eight revised volumes of the Peter Warlock Society Critical Edition . Michael Pilkington has completed all revisions of the notes as well as the scores and I have prepared the first three volumes which are now ready to send to the publisher.
As mentioned in my last report, our intention is to publish revised versions of the nine volumes of choral music once the Critical Edition is out. The need for this was perfectly illustrated during the recording sessions for the Orchestral Project in Watford. The BBC singers were working from our existing minuscule copies and the lack of bar numbers frequently caused confusion. It is clear that the existing volumes are unfit for purpose in a practical environment.
I don’t need to list all the other publications mentioned in my last report. I simply reiterate that our commitment to reviewing, updating and introducing new publications is ongoing and we shall address them all in due course.
The next recording project with EM Records is the complete Peter Warlock Songs for Voice and Piano . I can now confirm that Roderick Williams has agreed to sing many, but not all, of the songs for baritone voice. He is currently looking through the scores to select the songs he wishes to do. Selection of the other artists is still to be
determined. We do have concerns regarding the singers that have been suggested by EM Records. It will probably be necessary for us to intervene to ensure that we are happy with the choice of voices – ie. second baritone, tenor and soprano.
Jennifer Hamilton has confirmed that she will be very happy to host the pilot for the Peter Warlock Prize competition next spring (2023) at Trinity Laban and discussions are taking place to plan for the event.
Last be by no means least, is the progress being made on the design of the new website. The design team at Convivium has developed a draft structure and put forward some design ideas for discussion. Claire Beach (Hon. Secretary) and I met with Convivium in Portsmouth for an in-depth discussion, which was followed up by a further meeting at my home in Hullavington a few weeks later to look at the resulting draft website. As you know, Claire designed the specification for the site and will say more about progress in her Secretary’s Report.
We have an excellent opportunity, especially through the revised website, to promote Peter Warlock in a positive way as a serious and industrious composer and scholar, that will help to balance the often sensational portrayal of Warlock. It will, of course, be important to ensure that the fun element isn’t subdued unnecessarily.
I am pleased to say that there are definitely signs that an interest in Warlock's music is gradually increasing, with a number of new recordings being issued that include his songs. Eg. Mark Austin and Anna Harvey on Rubicon ( Warlock & Howe ). Timothy Dickinson and Duncan Honeybourne, ( Holy Boy ). We understand that there are more CDs on the way in addition to our own CD projects.
Peter Warlock is a composer of considerable standing. His music and his scholarly work have contributed significantly to the musical life of Britain over the last 100 years. Our wonderful Society is working hard to ensure that his name and work remain available to be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
Michael Graves – Chairman, on behalf of the Trustees, May 2022
Peter Warlock Society
Treasurer’s Report for 2021
Financial Results for 2021
Compared to the year 2020, when the lockdowns during the pandemic largely precluded any activity, in 2021 there has been more of a semblance to previous years. For instance, we were able to hold an AGM in 2021, and also sponsor a number of projects, including a new CD of Warlock songs for soprano, and Warlock concerts at the English Music Festival, and the London Song Festival. Income was similar to previous years for the usual items, but it is pleasing to record we received the final part of the Patrick Mills Bequest - £303,720, as well as £1295 in investment income (see below). One change in the Balance Sheet has been the no longer listing of Liabilities, as this seemed less meaningful in the context of having a significant bank balance with which to fund these three projects in the pipeline.
The Patrick Mills Bequest
With the financial situation having eased somewhat since the uncertainties of 2020, the Trustees took the decision to invest £125,000 in the CCLA Ethical Investment Fund. It is pleasing to report that the investment income so far received from it is £1295, an annual return of around 3%. The Bequest has now been received in full (£603,720), and as and when the Trustees deem it safe and appropriate, the intention is to invest further to a total of £500,000, with the residue of the Bequest put by for capital expenditure on various projects.
To conclude, the Society moved further into a very healthy financial state at the end of 2021 when our total funds were at an unprecedented £596,774. 2022 promises to be another eventful year, what with the Warlock Orchestral/Voices Project coming to fruition at long last, and the development of a new PWS website in progress.
John Mitchell Hon. Treasurer May 2022
PETER WARLOCK SOCIETY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT - GENERAL FUND FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER 2021
| 2021 2021 2020 RECEIPTS: £ £ £ From voluntary sources: Subscriptions 1775 Donations 277 Gift Aid 314 Royalties 127 Patrick Mills Bequest (part) 303,720 Soprano Songbook sales 75 From assets: Charities Deposit Interest - General Society Account 29 - Pictorial Biography Account - COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund yield 1295 [value of units: £133,797, purchased for £125,000] ______ 307,612 |
2020 £ 1746 240 362 558 250,000 - 343 7 - ______ 253,256 |
|---|---|
PAYMENTS:
| Charitable Activity Direct Expenditure: Officers’ expenses Newsletter production & distribution Royalties AGM expenditure Subventions to concerts Warlock ‘Orchestral Project’ Patrick Mills Bequest AMR (Archive & Music Repository) Warlock:A Soprano Songbook Soprano CD sponsorship New computer for PWS Miscellaneous Surplus/(Deficit) for the Year: |
1954 981 2164 2252 233 140 1370 - 3450 100 - 16 - 35 258 65 - 929 6500 - 2087 - 846 632 18,862 5150 288,750 248,106 |
|---|---|
PETER WARLOCK SOCIETY
BALANCE SHEET AT 31st DECEMBER 2021
| ASSETS: Cash at Bank - Deposit Account Current Account Pictorial Biography Account Investment in COIF Ethical Investment Fund [Valued at £133,797 on 31stDecember 2021] LIABILITIES: |
2021 2020 £ £ 163,098 301,775 305,821 3394 2855 2855 __ ____ 471,774 308,024 125,000 - |
2021 2020 £ £ 163,098 301,775 305,821 3394 2855 2855 __ ____ 471,774 308,024 125,000 - |
|---|---|---|
| - |
| Sundry Creditors: Pictorial Biography Subvention Orchestral Warlock with voices subvention Merry-Go-Down to CD project |
______ 596,774* |
(2855) (3000) (1000) ______ 301,169 |
|---|---|---|
* With the Patrick Mills Bequest having now been received in full, the nominal liabilities shown here become less meaningful, and accordingly have been removed.
Represented by:
| General Fund balance at 1st January 2021 |
308,024 |
59,918 |
|---|---|---|
| Surplus/(Deficit) for the year |
288,750 |
248,106 |
| Invested funds during 2021 | 125,000 | - |
| ______ |
______ | |
| General Fund balance at 31st December 2021 | 596,774 | 308,024 |