Some will remember Stephen Dodgson (1924–2013) as the broadcaster who graced Radio 3 for many years from 1957. Others may know of his significant – even transformative – contribution to the guitar repertoire. But the extensive work list in this heartfelt and thoughtful centenary tribute reveals the degree to which his prodigious and beautifully crafted output is yet to be discovered by audiences.
The appetite to learn more is thoroughly whetted through remembrances, interviews, essays and more – including transcriptions of Dodgson broadcasts in all their direct, affable appeal.
As a composer and man he’s shown to have been pragmatic and ‘modest to the core’, beloved by performers who valued his sympathetic writing for an array of often unusual forces.
Yet Dodgson was also rigorous, insisting on a narrative clarity free from expressive indulgence. His tonal-modal, neo-classical style remains utterly distinctive: both traditional and explorative, Janáček and Hindemith are perhaps the strongest 20th-century touchstones. The latter’s urge to communication is wonderfully detectable in the statement, ‘If I can get the music to look simpler than it actually is, I take pride in it.’ ★★★★
Steph Power
BBC Music Magazine
