Three Terpsichorean Studies

These studies constitute a suite of dances, brilliant in effect, and of immediate appeal. The first performance was conducted by Richard Austin at the Royal College of Music in March 1949. The first broadcast was given by the BBC Scottish Orchestra conducted by Ian Whyte, and the first public performances took place in Edinburgh and Glasgow when the Scottish National Orchestra was conducted by Walter Susskind. Performances followed in 1953 in Leeds and Birmingham.

Press Notices :

“They are bright, entertaining, and cleverly orchestrated.” - Glasgow Evening Citizen

“… deftly scored, well contrasted in mood, and not agressive in idiom.” - Glasgow Herald

"John Addison’s “Three Terpsichorean Studies for Orchestra” have been played at the Royal College of Music and broadcast by the BBC Scottish Orchestra , but yesterday was their first public performance. At a first hearing, one was struck by the composer’s admirable command of scoring, piquant, varied and open. There was a feeling of spaciousness and air in which the individual instruments had room to manoeuvre freely.

The first of the three studies had the most striking material, vigorously expounded with a power of invention more consistently interesting than in the other two. In these the dramatic content seemed outweighed by the skill and imagination deployed in its presentation. On the showing of the spontaneity and, indeed, the attractiveness of theses studies, John Addison has a valuable contribution to make towards British composition.” - William Primrose, The Scotsman

"In his Rudolf Schwarz’s concert in the Birmingham Town Hall last night he played Three Terpsichorean Studies by John Addison, a talented and modest young composer who, although already a professor of composition at the Royal College of Music, believes, like Brahms but unlike many contemporaries that it is best to bide one’s time before tackling a symphony. So far he has practised what he preaches in a number of simply but well organized works, fairly light in character. These Studies, his op.1, written about five years ago, are already a good example, showing his gift for gay tunes of rather square cut and tongue-in-cheek humour, like certain tunes of Prokofiev and Poulene, but in this case with some acknowledgment also to “Petrushka” and for orchestration - or rather for genuine orchestral thinking, as in the middle dance, where he skilfully passes the tune continually from one instrument to another without destroying its continuity.” - Manchester Guardian, February 21, 1953

First performance of “Three Terpsichorean Studies” at the Royal College of Music