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 [log in to unmask]