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Sun, 18 Mar 2001 09:41:50 +1100 |
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Robert Clements:
>(Also DSCH-inspired - but officially retired for serious health
>reasons - is the dean of English symphonists, Sir Malcolm Arnold.
Much as I love the Arnold symphonies, I still think this title belongs to
Vaughan Williams.
>Best known as a composer of popular miniatures, Arnold's symphonies are a
>very different kettle of rallentendo indeed: multiple recordings of these
>works are available on Naxos, Conifer, Chandos & EMI. The shattering - &
>supposedly unperformable - 9th symphony on Naxos is as dark a place to
>start as any on these musical maps of hell)
I haven't kept tabs on the Hickox series on Chandos but I believe it's
complete. The Handley on Conifer is, very regrettably, nla, Penny's
on Naxos seems to have either stalled or been discontinued, and EMI has
only Nos 1, 2 and 5, if they're still available. I'd agree with Robert's
suggestion of the 9th as a place to start: equally dark is the 7th
symphony which is angry, bleak, dissonant and, IMO, Arnold's finest
symphony. Its second movement in particular is one of the most unsettling
pieces of music I know.
Richard Pennycuick
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