Maurice Besley, the British Composer

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 41, 24 April 1931, Page 9

Maurice Besley, the British Composer

Prison Camp Reminiscences

By

C. T.

ALISON

ECENTLY a short pardgraph was devoted to BH. M. Besly, prior to the presenting of one of ‘his. orchestral pieces at 2YA, Now that the public taste is turning in the’ direction. of the: younger British composers, ‘the following brief sketch of this talented musician; as I knew him, may be of interest to’ listeners, In 1918, during ‘the last: months of the war, it- was my. misforttine to be a prisoner in Germany. My final place

o* internment. was ‘Mainz, in) the old citadel overlooking the..Rhine, which building had been arranged to suit the purpose of an offoers' "gefangenenlager." Here. "were immured. some. ‘five. hundred officers, of all ranks and regiments and from all parts of. the Empire; .and it was. here that I: made the acquaintance of the former music-master .of Tonbridge School, Captain E. "Maurice Besly, ‘of the Royal Engineers, : ay A-man of pleasant ‘and manners, full of energy, he occupied a prominent place’in the prison life. Having a. good knowledge of the German tongue, he formed an important link between ourselves and the authorities,. .But.it was ‘to his musica! talent that he chiefly. owed his popularity. — In conjunction with another prisoner, Lieut. ZT, Milton Hayes; M,C.,-since

known to all listeners through "The Meanderings of Monty," Besly gathered together the musically-minded and formed a concert party, to which was given the name of the ‘"Mainzprings." The Citadel’s rifle range was transformed into a theatre and the party. produced a series of original shows in the. form. of revues. The proscenium and stage were made. from old packing cases, and the scenery was the production of artists unknown, who worked on pieces of brown paper pasted together. The resulting effects were good, and these creditable examples of the scene-painter’s art formed a background to performances that were greatly appreciated. Other theatrical: parties sprang up, in all of which Besly hada large hand. ’ Practically the whole of the music was of his composition and he was responsible for a number of the lyrics. A Dramatie Society produced "The Alternative," and for this he composed incidental music. NOTHER effort on the part of Maurice Besly to relieve the tedium of prison life was the delivery of a series of lectures on the operas. One, especially, ‘remains in my memory"Tristan and Isolde," in the lecturer carefully * analysed each "‘leitmotif," illustrating his points with the plano and the ‘assistance of a gifted : fellow prisoner, who ‘sang the various’ ‘arias, ‘He -also gave several pianoforte. Ter eltals from ‘the’ works of the’ great ; masters. A string band was brought together with: the aid: of ‘Besly’s ‘never-failing energy,:and he entered into the" task of knocking it ~into shape with great enthusiasm. I yet*smile when I call to mind. yociferating .. conductor, shaking his baton.at the laggards. Attired in khaki shirt, riding. breeches held: up: by -faney braces, and shod in vivid- coloured socks and patent leather pumps, he: looked anything : ‘but a captain‘of:engineers! " Additional colour was furnished ‘by: the yellow-spotted handkerchief he always wore about’ his neck, ' He was. a contributor to the camp magazine, "The Queue," which publication attained a high standard. of literary quality. Alec. Waugh, the youthful author. of "The Loom of Youth,’ "who was’ also with’ tus in "durance

vile," contributed some sketches and verse. ' Since those niamorabls days Maurice Besly Has made a mark in the musical world and has had the honour of’conducting the famous Halle Orchestra. He is quite at home before the micro-. phone, haying been starred in several B.B.G, orchestral conceris., It is- quite possible that some of the tuneful airs since given to the world" by. him have grown from seeds sown in his efforts to enliven the monotony of his comrades while a brisoner, 0h Mainz. The aceompanying caricature is thom ‘the pages of "The Queue," and is the work of Capt. R. T. Roussel, to. whor ‘I make due acknowledgement,