Advice on Malcolm Arnold CD

There is, or was, a Lyrita CD with the composer conducting the London Philharmonic* in his English, Cornish, Scottish and Irish Dances and a couple of other pieces. I'd be minded to get that first.

*Early in his career, Malcolm Arnold was principal trumpet in the LPO.

Graham,

Thanks for that. Yes, it is still available. I had considered this, or a similar NAXOS CD as well. I have not bought many classical CD's  so I'm not familiar with the merit so to speak of different labels. I realise that NAXOS is a budget label, and it seems that many of their recordings are by obscure orchestras and conductors, which doesn't of course necessarily mean that they are inferior. Is this label well thought of generally, amongst the "classical fraternity", or is it one to generally avoid? They do seem considerably cheaper than many other CD's of the same music (different performances of course), and would be a good way to build up a library quickly if they were OK.

Peter

Peter, I think that when a composer is conducting his own music, it's hard to beat (viz Britten, Stravinsky, or Malcolm Arnold here), so that's the one I'd go for. Lyrita were famous for making high quality recordings of English music.

As to Naxos, generally I suppose that they're regarded as dependable, but not usually first choice for any given work. I would tend to go for midprice or budget reissues from the major labels, where you can expect to get better performances from truly great artists. Of course, it's difficult to give absolute advice, and you really need to consider each work individually.

Best regards, Graham. 

Graham,

Many thanks for your advice - it's much appreciated.

Peter

Get the Lyrita disc. It is priceless, and will lead to you investigating so much more.

Arnold was a manic depressive, and so on occasion whem performing was a prodigeous genius of a trumpet player, as well as a budding composer in his LPO days - obviously for him composing was easier to manage than the demands of performing in the orchestra on good days and bad alike, and so luckily for us he composed great, accessible, and beautifully crafted music that was always successful in its orchestration as only someone who played in orchestras seem manage. And combine this with being a tune-smith "par ecxellence.".

 For an example of him giving more than 101% playing the trumpet in the orchestra get the Beulah recording on CD [from mono Decca 78 and early tape recordings from 1948 to 1950] called "van Beinum conducts Elgar." Listen to the "Wild Bears" from the Wand of Youth Suites and tell me that Arnold was not either totally insane [as was Elgar for writing the trumpet part] or a superhuman! Either way it is one example of how a recording can even exceed you wildest dreams for spontinaeity and genius over even a live concert - all too rare unfortunately ... [Fine mono sounds and great performance that remain some of the best - Anthony Pini's recording of Elgar's Cello Concerto with the LPO under van Beinum remains still one of the handfull of trully wondrous recordings of the work recorded - among others including Navara, Harrisson, and Tortellier, IMO].

Arnold wrote music that was far too easy to for the normal audience to enjoy and thus was dismissed by "serious" music critics [and for more significantly, the music staff at the Third Programme or BBC Radio Three as it became], who would prefer the much less accessible Benjamin Britten or Stockhausen for two examplea of the time. I like very little from Britten, and everything I have heard of Arnold. Get that Lyrita disc - I once owned it, then loaned it, and forgot to whom I loaned it. Naturally I have not seem it since. that tells the tale of how enjoyable it was ...

Arnold was a regular EMI artist in the 1950s [and EMI's 1950s recordings were arguably the best of bunch at that time though hifi enthusiasts may find more to gasp at in terms of dynamics, and the ever illusiary stereo effect in recording, from the Decca stable], and one day he fell out with Walter Legge [the senior EMI recording producer]. Legge had criticised Arnold's performance of his own music during a recording session. A dangerous thing to do as a mere recording prodcer, and Arnold bellowed back down the studio phone, "Get back in your box* little man." Arnold completed the session and left EMI's roster of artists that day.  

ATB from George

* Recording Monitor Room.

George,

Many thanks. The Lyrita disc it is then!

I confess that I have very little clasical music in my collection. Not through dislike, but rather through ignorance. I love orchestral music, and I own a number of excellent film and TV scores. I am especially interested in British composers (perhaps because of my love of British films from the 1950's and 1960's (not the trash that they make now). I came to Arnold through his film scores, which are wonderful. When one then begins to appreciate and like a composer's works for film, one becomes curious as to what that composer has achieved without the constraints of composing within the very narrow limits of what is suitable for the film in hand. I did some background reading on Arnold, and as you say he has had a troubled life - compounded by his own self-doubt and relative un-recognition (though he did get a knighthood in the end). As you say, his music is accessable - he seems to have a knack of writing catchy melodies, which perhaps somewhat pigeon-holed him as a composer of "light" rather than "serious" classical pieces. A guide book to classical music I have devotes several pages to most composers but shockingly (I thought) only about one side of a page to Malcolm Arnold.

I have heard many classical pieces here and there, but frustratingly I don't know what they are - so can't buy them! In an attempt to broaden my experience, I bought two budget box sets - an HMV collection and a Deutsche Grammophon one. Trouble is they contain all the "usual" stuff as would be expected, but I think a lot of the interesting pieces I have heard are more obscure. I guess a good way of broadening my listening would be to use the radio. Can you advise me please George as to what classical programmes are good to listen to (with channels and times if possible)? Many thanks.

Peter

Peter, George may well answer your questions, but my thoughts are as follows.

The two indisputably great English symphonic writers of the last Century were Elgar and Vaughan Williams, so that may be a good starting point for you. Their symphonies, and recommended recordings of them, have been discussed often enough on these boards, so use the 'Search' function to read them: hint, you won't go wrong with Barbirolli's or Boult's various recordings!

BBC Radio 3 is still the best place for quality classical music, despite the BBC's extraordinary attempts to dumb it down to a Classic FM clone. They broadcast a live concert every weeknight between 7.30pm and 10.00pm, and a live opera each Saturday night (times vary). I also recommend CD Review, broadcast every Saturday between 9.00am and noon.

Hope these suggestions may help to get you started. 

Graham,

Many thanks, that is indeed a great help. A solid starting point for my listening is exactly what I need, rather than just fumbling aimlessly around, getting discouraged and giving up. This is what has prevented me from really investigating classical music more in the past - lack of guidance / information. The choice of composers and multiple recordings available of the same works is completely bewildering to a "newcomer" like myself. I will start listening to BBC Radio 3 as you suggest, and hopefully after a while things will start to become a little clearer to me. Thanks again.

Peter

Dear Peter and Graham,

I am not sure that the dust has really settled on 20th. Century music in Britain or elsewhere, and it would not be my place to define what was great from the last century in British music, though my favourites are Elgar, Vaughan Williams [after a long period of failing to understand it enough to enjoy], Walton, Coates, and Arnold. Many serious ctritics of music seem to consider that Britten is possibly the greatest, but I find his music very hard to take. But like those who find Mozart hard to enjoy, this is my problem ... Apart from Elgar in 20th. Century music, considering the European and Russian perspective, I also adore Sibelius and some Prokofiev, among others.

Some of the rest seems too Romantic and some too extreme or austere for me to really enjoy, though no composer was more austere than JS Bach at times, and who is my greatest musical love ....

In my view Piazzola is one of the most wonderful 20th. Century composers as well, but he is barely recognised in the UK as far as I can see ...

ATB from George

George,

Many thanks. Graham and yourself have provided me with a good few composers to investigate. It is good to make a start I feel on the recommendations/likings of people who have a sound knowledge and experience of the vast arena of classical works. My ignorance is almost total here, so this guidance really is invaluable to me. Budget is very limited at present, so most of my exploration will be done via the radio for the moment, until I can acquire more CD's. I wish I had had a better experience of being taught music at school. I attended a Grammar school of good repute in our area, but our music teacher felt that the best way to a musical education was to bung on any old classical LP, sit at his desk eating peppermints whilst reading the paper, and ignore what the class was getting up to! Interestingly, quite a number of people I've been friendly with in my life seem to have had a very similar experience of music at school. One suspects that, at least until 'O' level standard, it wasn't taken terribly seriously in those days (early 70's).

I shall attempt to improve my knowledge and hence enjoyment by following your advice. No doubt as things progress I shall have (tedious) questions to ask - so please be kind!

Best wishes,

Peter

Dear Peter,

There are no silly questions [except for the nth. repeat of the same question in the Hifi corner when the questioner has not mastered the seach engine] - only silly answers. You fire your questions off as often as you like, and if they are about music I know something of, then I will try to give a non-silly answer!

I am sure the same applies to many here including Graham!

Best wishes from George

Arnold's string quartets on Naxos, by the Magini I think, are well worth a listen

atb

SJ

George,

Many thanks.

SJ,

Thanks for the recommendation - another one to investigate when funds allow!

Peter

Why not join spotify? It seems to be free at the moment. I realise all tracks are MP3s but it is a great way to get to know a piece of music before you shell out on a CD or lossless download. There are about ten Arnold CDs on Spotify at present.

Personally I find Arnold comes up with some intersting ideas in pieces and then ruins it by turning to whimsy or a folk song tune.

Graham,

Great idea, thanks.

I have two Chandos CD's of re-recorded suites from some of Arnold's film scores, which is how I became interested in hearing more of his (non-film) works, and classical music in general. In some of these scores he does incorporate traditional music, eg. in "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" he uses "This Old Man", and in "Whistle Down the Wind" he uses "We Three Kings". I know in a sense this could be seen as laziness, but I find that this music is so skillfully incorporated and blended with his own, particularly "This Old Man" in "The Inn...."  that it really works triumphantly well. It still has Arnold's stamp on it to my mind. I have read that, in his film scores at least, he was perfectly happy to be "obvious" and use cliches, if he thought that was what would best serve the film. So I suppose it was quite "selfless" of him in a way! 

Peter