Workers’ Music Association celebrates 125th Anniversary of Founder, Alan Bush

Very few composers share the extraordinary legacy of Alan Bush. Teacher, internationalist, communist, and friend of many around the globe, Alan Bush garnered fame and controversy for his deeply original music as well as his political leanings that saw him blacklisted by the BBC, which some argue is still in effect to this day.

Because of this dual legacy, Alan Bush celebrates a cult following, as one of the few British composers of the 20^th Century who was committed to the working-class of Britain, and not just modernism for modernism’s sake. This commitment to the working-class of Britain, is particularly evident in the role Alan Bush played in founding the Workers’ Music Association, who will celebrate Bush’s momentous anniversary!

“As so few in the ‘mainstream’ classical institutions are celebrating the music of such an important teacher and composer, it is our responsibility as the Workers’ Music Association, to make sure he is celebrated” says Ben Lunn, composer and secretary of the Workers’ Music Association. “Many composers, musicians, and other artists are looking for ways to use their art to be more politically conscious but are unaware of the incredible work done by Alan Bush. It is our hope these events will shine a light on the incredible work he did in lifetime”

Thanks to support from the Arts Council of England, the Workers’ Music Association are hosting four events to celebrate the life and music of Alan Bush.

August will see the Fidelio Trio, attending the WMA’s annual summer school, where they’ll give a private performance of Alan Bush’s chamber works, alongside similarly inclined composers.

Darragh Morgan, violinist from the trio had this to say of the event “Fidelio Trio are really looking forward to bring some radical music to the WMA Summer School performing rarely heard chamber music for strings and piano by Alan Bush and other likeminded composers including Aaron Copland, Elizabeth Maconchy, Michael Nyman, Sofia Gubaidulina and a new piano trio by WMA President David Martin. It is always a thrill to perform works that are not heard as often in public as they should be and maintain the performance lives and presence of these unique compositional voices.”

In September, Ben Lunn, in collaboration with Marx Memorial Library & Workers’ School, will discuss the politics, theoretical backdrop, and history of Alan Bush sharing how the composer attempted to address political questions in his work.

Meirian Jump, the Director of Marx Memorial Library & Workers’ School says “This anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Alan Bush’s work. The MML – the leading research and education centre on Marxism and socialist history – is the ideal venue. We can’t wait to develop a fitting display from our archives to accompany Ben’s exploration of Bush’s legacy.”

October, Rolf Hind will perform in the Anthony Burgess Centre in Manchester, creating a powerful recital sprouting from Alan Bush’s remarkable preludes.

Rolf Hind’s remarkable playing combined with politically significant works will make this recital a particularly powerful event.

The final event in this celebratory quartet is hosted by the Birmingham Clarion Singers, who will use their annual Winter concert to celebrate Alan Bush, who also played a significant role in the founding of the workers’ choir, who are led by the musical stalwart Jane Scott.

The conductor who remembers Alan Bush fondly says “Alan was a strong, loyal friend and mentor to Birmingham Clarion Singers from our formation in 1940, succeeding Paul Robeson as our president in 1976. We have celebrated his life and work on many occasions and are delighted to be organising this concert in his honour on November 29th. It’s particularly special to us that we are able to include a performance of Alan’s cantata The Winter Journey, in which we are privileged to have as soloists the award-winning mezzo-soprano Grace Maria Wain and our current president, the writer, actor and activist, baritone Tayo Aluko.”

Grace Maria Wain, is the 2023 winner of the Carole Rees Prize.

All four events are a broad and varied celebration of the life of a composer who has so much to offer audiences and artists alike. The Workers’ Music Association hopes this will be the start of a renewed interest in the composer.

These events were made possible by generous funding from the Arts Council of England, as well as financial support from the Alan Bush Trust.