Search - Richard Arnell, Martin Yates, Royal Scottish National Orchestra :: Richard Arnell: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5

Arnell symphony No 5

david bedford | 12/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Arnell's fifth symphony in 1976. The BBC Northern with John Cerew conducting. Of course I recorded it on a cheap mono cassette player (pretty wonderful technology then for a sixteen year old). The music had instant appeal. I had been exposed to great and varied music by BBC R3 for several years up till ten. What a gift that station was uncompromising in its vision. The programming seems to talk down now along with taking fewer risks - but on the whole remains good.



As a boy I treasured the music of Walton (especially the first symphony), Arnold, Alwyn, Roy Harris and Bax along with the exciting new music by younger composers, such as Bedford, Matthews, and Birtwistle. I remember at the time, 1976, traveling down to Glastonbury in June to be at the first Glastonbury festival since 71 and especially climbing the Tor at sunrise and in my mind hearing the middle movement of Arnells Firth. After several decades the music would bubble up in to my conscious. In 95 Arnells 6th was first performed on R3. The language was different somehow, small groupings of orchestration with economical intent but the emotive force and structure was Arnell. I wrote to the composer straight away to thank him for his music and to my surprise he wrote back.



This must seem all very self absorbed, but the point is that the music of Richard Arnell was seriously neglected since the late 50's and only in the last couple of years, thanks to Martin Yates have all his symphony's been recorded, till then hardy a note of Arnells music was commercially available.



The firth symphony has immediate appeal. This Symphony is forceful with aim and displays a varied emotive range expressed through colour, developing themes and structural build up. The orchestration is thrilling and emotive. At other times tranquil with a hit of poignant far away lyrical yearning, this quality is haunting. In a way it has the urgency of Walton's first and the completeness of form and clear aim with a uplifting conclusion unlike Roy Harris great 3rd, nevertheless remaining an individual and distinctive voice. The performance is good by the RSO, although at times the sound a little muddled in clarity, perhaps the post production?, or under rehearsed. And I may be wrong but the last movement seems to be taken too fast. I think the material needs to breathe a bit. What a great BBC Prom concert to include this Symphony."