Prom 36 (2.09.21) - 20th-Century British Film Music

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Malcolm Arnold's rumbustious score for Hobson's Choice matches perfectly the wonderful, blustery performance of Charles Laughton in the title role; and he illuminates the mischievous antics of the naughty schoolgirls in his sparking score for St Trinian’s. Doreen Carwithen and husband William Alwyn are featured alongside highly regarded classic Walton and Vaughan Williams scores. We'll also hear excerpts from The Skull, written by the queen of horror film music, Elisabeth Lutyens, the first British woman composer to write for a full length feature film; and, 50 years after his death, Alan Rawsthorne's brooding and dark Cruel Sea Prelude.

Carwithen, arr Philip Lane: Overture – Men of Sherwood Forest
Arnold, arr Christopher Palmer Hobson’s Choice – Concert Suite
Rawsthorne, arr Philip Lane: The Cruel Sea - Prelude and Nocturne
Walton: Escape Me Never Suite
Lutyens: The Skull
Alwyn, arr Christopher Palmer: Odd Man Out Suite (Police Chase; Nemesis (finale))
Vaughan Williams, arr Muir Mathieson: The England of Elizabeth: Three Portraits
Arnold, arr Philip Lane: The Belles of St Trinians – Comedy Suite


BBC Concert Orchestra
Bramwell Tovey (conductor)

English composers of the 20th century could rival their counterparts across the Atlantic when it came to creating some of the most memorable cinematic moments of the century. Spend a night at the movies with a sequence of classic British film scores by composers including Malcolm Arnold, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Doreen Carwithen, brought to life by the BBC Concert Orchestra and Principal Conductor Bramwell Tovey.

[King_Ouf_I]

Barely enough in the Arena to make a violin section. And not much better elsewhere. Are my musical tastes so out of kilter with those of the general public?

[Alison]

Barely enough in the Arena to make a violin section. And not much better elsewhere. Are my musical tastes so out of kilter with those of the general public?

Yes but good for you!

[King_Ouf_I]

Well, good for them - I’m sitting!

[DracoM]

And I've turned off the R3 relay of it.

[bluestateprommer]

The BBC CO sounds on fine form so far. The overall pulse, though, seems rather lethargic to me, which would fall at the feet of BT. He has had health issues in the past few years, so one wonders if that has something to do with it and he's pacing himself carefully.

The only one of the films featured in the 1st half that I've seen to date is The Cruel Sea, on US public TV years ago. I've seen many David Lean films, but not Hobson's Choice, so maybe one day.

[King_Ouf_I]

Do search out Hobson’s Choice! A comic masterpiece that perfectly evokes a way of life that is now long gone, and a film which for all its many attributes shows that a great musical score is essential!

[ucanseetheend]

Would have gone if in London . Martin Handley said on radio the Arnold Bellesof St Trinians is arranged by Chris Palmer whereas the listing says Philip Lane. Handley not reading his notes well

[Alison]

Pleased that Martin Handley is presenting tonight even so. I like his quiet and well informed enthusiasm.

[ucanseetheend]

Barely enough in the Arena to make a violin section. And not much better elsewhere. Are my musical tastes so out of kilter with those of the general public?

What is the 'General public '? Maybe most of them are a generation I have no musical connection with. That's fine by me but ultimately the Proms will become something that has very little to do with what it was created to be!

[jayne lee wilson]

Would have gone if in London . Martin Handley said on radio the Arnold Bellesof St Trinians is arranged by Chris Palmer whereas the listing says Philip Lane. Handley not reading his notes well

Listings like this say arr. Palmer/rev.Lane....but seem to give Palmer specific credit for each movement....

https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/7449/The-Belles-of-St-Trinians-Comedy-Suite---Concert-Suite--Malcolm-Arnold/

.....so Handley probably knew his stuff here....

Other listings show Lane as editor, and he did do the arrangement for Trapeze.

[ucanseetheend]

Ok thanks.

[bluestateprommer]

Martin Handley did indeed credit both Palmer and Lane with the St. Trinian's suite, which was a hoot to hear (never seen this film either). The second half had more spring in its step, IMHO, especially starting with the William Alwyn selections from Odd Man Out (which I have seen, again many years back on the Philly PBS affiliate growing up). The music had a longer line that seemed to suit BT's style more. Plus, the encore was the perfect selection , and I have seen that film, even once in full widescreen.

[King_Ouf_I]

I suppose Martin Handley commented on it, but for the St.Trinian’s Suite, the percussion section donned boaters, badges and ponytail wigs, and one of them was *very* naughty, throwing paper balls at the others to put them off!

[edashtav]

And I've turned off the R3 relay of it.

And I’ve joined you on the naughty step.