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Bryson was of Scottish descent but spent much of his life working in Liverpool as a cotton merchant in his father's business. As a composer he was largely self taught. He was the founder-chairman and later President of the Rodewald Concert Society in Liverpool.
Alfred Rodewald, a Liverpool businessman and musician who died in 1905, had founded and bankrolled the Liverpool Orchestral Society. After Rodewald's death it was decided to found a chamber music society in his memory. The Liverpool Orchestral Society had only survived a few years following Rodewald's death, so they decided that setting up an orchestra was not practicable. It was named The Rodewald chamber music society. In 1924, officers of the Rodewald chamber music society wrote to Sir Edward Elgar, who by then had completed most of his greatest works, to invite him to become the society's president. Elgar was not delighted by the invitation, apparently upset that the wishes of Rodewald, a close friend, had been betrayed.
"I am much honoured by the invitation; I cannot accept the post of president. Alfred Rodewald was a very dear friend and if it were possible to carry on, under his name, some orchestral concerts I would be proud to be associated with the executive. Chamber music, in this case, is inadequate and it is a reproach to the musical taste of Liverpool that the orchestral concerts should have been allowed to disappear."
The society then invited Bryson to take on the job Elgar had spurned and forwarded to him the great composer's letter. Bryson accepted the presidency and replied:
"I return Sir Edward Elgar's letter and do not understand why he should have seen fit to combine stupidity and impertinence in his reply to the society."
In 1916 it was renamed The Rodewald Concert Society.
Bryson composed two symphonies only one of which survive, the Symphony No 1 in D. It was performed in Liverpool by the Liverpool Orchestral Society under Bantock in 1908. There were further performances, in Bournemouth and in Manchester by the Hallé Orchestra. For a self taught composer it is abundantly clear how gifted Bryson was in this genre.
Symphony No 1 in D
The Andante Lento opening is atmospheric, almost literally as if looking through the mists of a late autumn morning. The music rises from the gloom to a controlled climax and subsides back into darkness. This slow introduction is almost six minutes long and here is all of it.
SAMPLE: 1st mov - Andante Lento - all
The Allegro begins and soon we hear one of the main themes, a glorious Elgar-like melody which contrasts with the more staccato main subject theme.
SAMPLE: 1st mov - Allegro (after the start)
The development and recapitulation are not distinct entities as such. However, earlier themes are brought back in the final third of the movement. A more lyrical melody heard very little in the first part is brought to the forefront in the final pages.
The allegro ends in a grand climax and the Lento (from the introduction) returns to end the movement.
SAMPLE: 1st mov - end
It needs stating that this is a 'heavyweight' movement coming in at just short of 20 minutes.