Bax Spring Fire: “An English Masterpiece” short video talk by Sir Mark Elder.

[Stanfordian]

I have come across this short talk about Bax 'Spring Fire' on video by Sir Mark Elder on the Hallé's website. I know that he thinks 'Spring Fire' is an "English Romantic masterpiece". Here is the YouTube link to a short video of Sir Mark giving a short talk about the work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXXQynuxyds

I've had a recording by Vernon Handley on Chandos for some years and also the Hallé recording conducted by Sir Mark. I certainly reassessed my opinion of the work and kept playing it after he told me how much he rated it.

[salymap]

Thanks for that Stanfordian.

Another piece I don't know and wish I did.

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks for that Stanfordian.

Another piece I don't know and wish I did.

Part of it was used as the theme music for Geoff Hamilton's Paradise Gardens back in 1997, sal.

I remember at the time thinking, hmmm - an interesting piece of Delius I haven't come across before; then it was featured in its entirely when Bax was COTW iirc, and I thought, hmmm, not one of Bax's best...

[salymap]

Part of it was used as the theme music for Geoff Hamilton's Paradise Gardens back in 1997, sal.

I remember at the time thinking, hmmm - an interesting piece of Delius I haven't come across before; then it was featured in its entirely when Bax was COTW iirc, and I thought, hmmm, not one of Bax's best...

Inspired by HC perhaps ?

[BBMmk2]

Ah, I have this as a digital thingey ob my itunes library! It really is well worth it.

[ardcarp]

Mark Elder is such a persuasive advocate, I feel the need to get hold of Spring Fire immediately. I see Vernon Handley has recorded it too (although I think Sir M implied no-one else had done it). Which version should I go for?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I see Vernon Handley has recorded it too (although I think Sir M implied no-one else had done it).

Not really, ardy - he said that he couldn't think of another living conductor who had ever conducted it.

He was very persuasive - even if the constant changing of camera angles was distracting - and I, too, want to hear the work. Many thanks, Stanf.

[Colonel Danby]

I got the LP by Tod and the RPO when it first came out many moons ago, and even had to replace it with a CD version on Chandos because I had played it so many times! Admittedly it really isn't as good as Bax's first three symphonies which are out and out masterpieces, but I do have a soft spot for it. It does remind me of Roussel's first symphony 'Le Poeme de la Foret' with its debt to Debussy certainly, but a fine work in its own right.

So Handley on Chandos would be my first choice.

[Stanfordian]

Mark Elder is such a persuasive advocate, I feel the need to get hold of Spring Fire immediately. I see Vernon Handley has recorded it too (although I think Sir M implied no-one else had done it). Which version should I go for?

The situation is as I understand it is. Sir Mark meant that no one curently alive today has performed it since he has as Vernon Handley is no longer with us. Sir Mark said to me "I’m the only conductor in the world who conducts Bax’s Spring Fire; I know because there is only one set of parts and I’ve got them."

[BBMmk2]

I think both versions are good. I think that maybe Vernon Handley has the edge over Elder though.

[AmpH]

I have the original Chandos release of the Handley recording of Spring Fire which I enjoy enormously, though I would not regard this work as the equal of the Bax symphonies.

I have not heard the Elder recording of Spring Fire, but I tend to approach Halle / Elder recordings with some caution as whilst I have found many to be stimulating ( RVW2 and the recent RVW8 come to mind ) I have been rather disappointed by an apparent blandness and lack of energy in some ( the recent RVW5 and especially the Elgar VC with Zehetmair come to mind ). With this in mind, the attached review from the Bax website is interesting :-

http://www.musicweb-international.com/bax/halle.htm

Personally, I will be sticking with the Handley recording, which I see is available in its present Chandos incarnation at a very reasonable price from the grocers.

https://www.sainsburysentertainment.co.uk/en/Music/CD/Arnold-Bax/Orchestral-Works-Vol-2-Thomson-RPO-LPO/product.html?product=E10207291

[BBMmk2]

Not have Spring Fire, equal to his symphonies?

[ardcarp]

Thanks for the review AmpH. I read it (lierally) just in time to change my click from Elder to Handley. (Sorry, Sir Mark.)

[Oliver]

"Spring Fire" has been a very private passion for me for over twenty years. Thank you Vernon Handley! Now I know that others love it too and so thank you, posters!
I enjoy all the Bax symphonies but cannot agree that Spring Fire is noticeably inferior to them. Indeed, were I to nominate my favourite Bax movement, it would be the Romance from Spring Fire. And if I were able to keep just three minutes of Bax, it would be the final three minutes of that movement when he uses the mixolydian mode (flattened sixth) to underpin a simple woodwind melody. A tear-jerking moment for me.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Good post, Oliver; many thanks. But the Mixolydian mode (G - G on the white notes) has a major sixth: it's the seventh that's "flattened" (the opening of RVW's 5th is D mixolydian). Aeolian, Phrygian and Lochrian modes have the minor ("flattened") sixth.