Malcolm Arnold

[Bella Kemp]

We're just keeping up he traditions of the Forum.

There is a connection. See Bella's post #7. Not that I'm saying it's her fault.......

Sorry - it is my fault! I took a short diversion after suggesting that Malcolm Arnold might be considered a great composer and somehow we came somewhere new. Maybe discussions that go off topic might be compared to those times when you go on a country walk heading in one direction and then, attracted by a tempting side path, wander along it instead and, before you know it you find yourself lost. And when you turn around you see that a whole crowd has followed you!

[Serial_Apologist]

Sorry - it is my fault! I took a short diversion after suggesting that Malcolm Arnold might be considered a great composer and somehow we came somewhere new. Maybe discussions that go off topic might be compared to those times when you go on a country walk heading in one direction and then, attracted by a tempting side path, wander along it instead and, before you know it you find yourself lost. And when you turn around you see that a whole crowd has followed you!

I was going to tell an amusing tale, but seeing this this would compound the error, instead have to confess that it's my fault as much as anybody else's that the thread has gone off-topic. Because, as with people, it's very difficult to keep subjects "caged", isn't it! We could apply a no repetition, no hesitation, no deviation from the subject rule, but there is only one Nicholas Parsons. Ooh dear, there I go again!!!

[gradus]

Wonderful tunes aplenty across his output but oddly neglected in the concert hall - he is a long term member of the oddly neglected club. An obvious choice for a complete Proms symphony cycle. As Donald reminded us in COTW the 5th's premiere received a standing ovation, hardly surprising when you hear that wonderful melody in the full orchestra at the end.

[ardcarp]

I was going to tell an amusing tale, but seeing this this would compound the error, instead have to confess that it's my fault as much as anybody else's that the thread has gone off-topic. Because, as with people, it's very difficult to keep subjects "caged", isn't it! We could apply a no repetition, no hesitation, no deviation from the subject rule, but there is only one Nicholas Parsons. Ooh dear, there I go again!!!

Oh go on. Let's have the amusing tale......

MA was, if not off-piste, frequently piste, so I'm sure he'd enjoy it.

[jayne lee wilson]

Sorry - it is my fault! I took a short diversion after suggesting that Malcolm Arnold might be considered a great composer and somehow we came somewhere new. Maybe discussions that go off topic might be compared to those times when you go on a country walk heading in one direction and then, attracted by a tempting side path, wander along it instead and, before you know it you find yourself lost. And when you turn around you see that a whole crowd has followed you!

Not a contributor, but I've found this thread a great & fascinating read, often because of the aesthetically relatable diversions, like free-associative web surfing, or losing yourself to serendipity in the Gramophone archive.....

[Ein Heldenleben]

Wonderful tunes aplenty across his output but oddly neglected in the concert hall - he is a long term member of the oddly neglected club. An obvious choice for a complete Proms symphony cycle. As Donald reminded us in COTW the 5th's premiere received a standing ovation, hardly surprising when you hear that wonderful melody in the full orchestra at the end.

I agree but a complete Proms cycle is about as likely as a Forum thread staying on topic

[Historian]

Not a contributor, but I've found this thread a great & fascinating read, often because of the aesthetically relatable diversions, like free-associative web surfing, or losing yourself to serendipity in the Gramophone archive.....

Agreed; I find that some of the best threads can be those which go off-topic; always good to hear a variety of well-considered views and humane discussion (rare these days perhaps in the 'outside world'...). However I too would love you to stay, visualnickmos, as I value your contributions.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I thought I was suffering from short term memory loss but there in fact two separate Arnold threads and I have only just worked out that my replies haven’t mysteriously disappeared from this one - the other has managed to stay on topic

[Podfather]

There's a fascinating musical dissection of the 5th Symphony from Discovering Music archive here. Well worth a listen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p01znfqt

[LMcD]

Time to merge the two Malcolm Arnold threads (to coin a phrase)?

[Serial_Apologist]

I see that this week's COTW on Malcolm Arnold is a repeat of the one from just under 2 years ago which was the topic for this thread.

The series is to be found on the following iplayer link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000b8hr

[MickyD]

I am only familiar with the dances on a very good Naxos disc. I would like to hear more...as a total novice to the symphonies, what set would you Arnoldophiles recommend?

[Ein Heldenleben]

I am only familiar with the dances on a very good Naxos disc. I would like to hear more...as a total novice to the symphonies, what set would you Arnoldophiles recommend?

I think there are only two complete sets readily available Penny on Naxos and Hickox on Chandos. I think the latter might now be only download only. From what I’ve heard both are excellent.

[jayne lee wilson]

I think there are only two complete sets readily available Penny on Naxos and Hickox on Chandos. I think the latter might now be only download only. From what I’ve heard both are excellent.

The Chandos set is a composite: LSO/Hickox for 1-6, BBCPO/Gamba for 7-9. CD Boxset widely available.
Apart from Penny on Naxos, Handley recorded the cycle for Conifer, shared out between the RPO, RLPO and the Bournemouth SO, just as his Robert Simpson cycle was (with the CLS for the 11th).

All three cycles were recorded across the 1990s, so it is well worth delving into the Gramophone archive for detailed comparisons. Naxos stole a march on their competitors by issuing the first boxset in 2001, in that pure-white livery they then favoured. "I rushed out to buy"...as we used to say.
Sony reissued a boxset of 11 originally-Conifer CDs from the Handley with all of the Symphonies and many Concertos in 2016 (on Qobuz, but without notes).
In James Jolly's view, these were "generally tauter and more incisive" than Hickox, and sometimes better played than the Penny. (Though I've never found the NSOI lacking in isolation; I find them consistently gripping).

I haven't heard much from the Handley, but even in close comparison it is hard to choose between the others. Interpretive swings and roundabouts (though you do notice the LSO pedigree here and there...). But I usually go for Penny as it has truly spectacular audiophile-grade sound, perfect match for the sonic thrills of Arnold's Orchestration....the National Concert Hall in Dublin (tonmeisters Chris Craker and Tim Handley) sounds like a wonderful acoustic on these discs.

[Ein Heldenleben]

The Chandos set is a composite: LSO/Hickox for 1-6, BBCPO/Gamba for 7-9. CD Boxset widely available.
Apart from Penny on Naxos, Handley recorded the cycle for Conifer, shared out between the RPO, RLPO and the Bournemouth SO, just as his Robert Simpson cycle was (with the CLS for the 11th).

All three cycles were recorded across the 1990s, so it is well worth delving into the Gramophone archive for detailed comparisons. Naxos stole a march on their competitors by issuing the first boxset in 2001, in that pure-white livery they then favoured. "I rushed out to buy"...as we used to say.
Sony reissued a boxset of 11 originally-Conifer CDs from the Handley with all of the Symphonies and many Concertos in 2016 (on Qobuz, but without notes).
In James Jolly's view, these were "generally tauter and more incisive" than Hickox, and sometimes better played than the Penny. (Though I've never found the NSOI lacking in isolation; I find them consistently gripping).

I haven't heard much from the Handley, but even in close comparison it is hard to choose between the others. Interpretive swings and roundabouts (though you do notice the LSO pedigree here and there...). But I usually go for Penny as it has truly spectacular audiophile-grade sound, perfect match for the sonic thrills of Arnold's Orchestration....the National Concert Hall in Dublin (tonmeisters Chris Craker and Tim Handley) sounds like a wonderful acoustic on these discs.

Hickox / Gamba complete is out of stock on Amazon , Chandos and Presto . I had a bit of a scout around after the prom…