Main content

The Cowpat Controversy

English composers of the early 20th century have been labelled ' the cowpat school'. This is not just unfair. It's downright rude and it belies the depth of their music.

The line-up of early 20th-century English composers includes great figures such as Holst, Vaughan Williams, Arnold Bax and Frederick Delius. Since the 1950s, these composers have been dogged by a casual and unkind slur against their work, namely by referring to it as 'cowpat music'.

Tom Service argues that, far from producing shallow and whimsical pastoral scores, the music produced by this English movement is among the most profound and communicative of the last century, rarely far from the influence of the two world wars.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Fri 4 Jun 2021 16:30
±«Óătv Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Speed

Next

The Magical Forest

See all episodes from The Listening Service

Music Played

  • Gustav Holst

    Brook Green Suite

    Performer: London Festival Orchestra. Performer: Ross Pople.
    • ARTE NOVA.

  • Ivor Gurney

    When Smoke Stood Up From Ludlow (Ludlow and Teme)

    Performer: Andrew Kennedy. Performer: Simon Crawford‐Phillips. Performer: Dante Quartet.
    • Signum.

  • Ivor Gurney

    Ludlow Fair (Ludlow and Teme)

    Performer: Andrew Kennedy. Performer: Simon Crawford‐Phillips. Performer: Dante Quartet.
    • Signum.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Symphony No.3 “Pastoral” – 1st movement

    Performer: Hallé. Performer: Sir Mark Elder.
    • HALLE.

  • Arnold Bax

    Symphony No.2 – 1st movement

    Performer: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Bryden Thomson.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Johanes Maria Staud

    Maniai

    Performer: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Mariss Jansons, conductor.
    • BR Klassik.

  • Frederick Delius

    Double Concerto

    Performer: Yehudi Menuhin. Performer: Paul Tortelier. Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Meredith Davies.
    • EMI.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 14 Oct 2018 17:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 3
  • Sun 30 May 2021 17:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 3
  • Fri 4 Jun 2021 16:30
    ±«Óătv Radio 3

Why do we call it 'classical' music?

Tom Service poses a very simple question (with a not-so-simple answer).

Six of the world's most extreme voices

From babies to Mongolian throat singers: whose voice is the most extreme of all?

How did the number 12 revolutionise music?

How did the number 12 revolutionise music?

How Schoenberg opened a new cosmos for composers and listeners to explore.

Why are we all addicted to bass?

Why are we all addicted to bass?

Bass is everywhere, but why do we enjoy it? Join Tom Service on a journey of discovery.

Watch the animations

Join Tom Service on a musical journey through beginnings, repetition and bass lines.

When does noise become music?

We like to think we can separate “noise” from “music”, but is it that simple?

Podcast