Malcomb Arnold has died.
Posted by: u5227470736789439 on 24 September 2006
I have heard the news that the death of the English composer, Sir Malcomb Arnold, has been announced.
He wrote a good deal of accessible music such as the various sets of Dances, and the music for a good few films including for 'Bridge On The River Quay,' and 'Whistle Down The Wind' with Hayley Mills.
He was also the Principle Trumpet player in the LPO after the Second War, and his incredible playing can be heard in Edvard van Beinum's Elgar recordings for Decca made in 1949 and '50, for example. He had a thorough understanding of what was possible in orchestration, with the result that his orchestration was always successful, but most of all he was unusual as a modern composer in writing tunes that are both characterful and recognisably his!
He was 84.
Fredrik
Posted on: 24 September 2006 by Tam
Dear Fredrik,
Sad news. Are there and recordings or works you would particularly recommend (since I don't think I have single Arnold work in my collection).
regards, Tam
Posted on: 24 September 2006 by u5227470736789439
Dear Tam,
I used to have a Lyrita LP of the composer leading the various sets of Dances, but I never found anything else.
I hope this event may open up this a bit and people may post recomendations. I certainly want to investigate this lovely music now.
I am sure that the Gramophone Magazine will come up with a good set of recomended recordings now.
Poor Arnold always suffered from being too tuneful to really appeal to the likes of Sir William Glock who was more or less the musical dictator at the BBC (Third Programme and R3) during almost the whole of Arnold's career, which is rather sad, because he got very little air time there...
But Music Concrete and Atonal Music really did get an airing! I think I heard an interview many years ago where Arnold showed that he had been rather sad about the situation, but of course he found success writing film music, just as Walton had as well...
Fredrik
Posted on: 24 September 2006 by Huwge
The Lyrita set of the Dances is a must have set. I, too, lent out and never got back the LP - it seems to command a hefty price on vinyl as well. The Lyrita catalogue is being re-introduced, change of ownership rights iirc, not many duff discs so pot luck should reap good rewards. I particularly like his concertos.
Posted on: 24 September 2006 by Tam
quote:
Originally posted by Fredrik_Fiske:
I am sure that the Gramophone Magazine will come up with a good set of recomended recordings now.
Dear Fredrik,
Have you read the Gramophone since its recent relaunch. This thread is perhaps not the place to castigate it, but suffice to say standards have dropped.
I have almost no Walton either, but the other day I picked up a classics for pleasure disc of Mackerras doing the first two symphonies (I haven't quite got round to it yet).
regards, Tam
Posted on: 24 September 2006 by u5227470736789439
Dear Tam,
One of the things about my recent changes to the replay set is that it will allow for me to buy without stress the odd disc again. I am poised to get a few Arnold things now.
As for Walton, I think you will find the First Symphony wonderful. As for the second, I have never understood it, myself! It was written for Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra, whose performance I have, and which used to get the critical palm. As for the First I have Walton's own 1951 set on EMI (Philharmonia), Boult's live reading in 1976 at the RFH (BBC SO), and Previn on RCA (1967 in EMI studio) with the LSO. All three of these are fantastic. I also have Hamilton Harty's pioneering Decca set with the LSO from about 1935, and the playing is superb, but the recording is not very fine!
On Film Music, if you buy the Battle Of Britain in the two disc special edition, you will find the origianl Walton music which was scrapped for the film's release on disc two, all except for the FUGUE: Battle In The Air, which is a terrifyingly powerful piece, and was included for the silent battle scene in the released version. I have not managed to listen to the original Walton music yet as I have no DVD replay at the moment...
I do hope that Arnold's demise will spark a reappraisal of his music though, because if you know Whistle Down The Wind, you will realise how different to his other music it is! He had a fantastic ability to make great music that fitted its purpose! I hope pople will post here with their own recomemndations, and celebrate, thus, the life of one of the truly great and largely unsung British composers of the last fifty years.
ATB from Fredrik
