- Symphony No. 2 (Arnold)
The Symphony No. 2, Op 40 by
Malcolm Arnold is a symphony dating from 1953. Arnold composed the symphony on commission from theBournemouth Winter Garden's Society. He dedicated the score to theBournemouth Symphony Orchestra and conductorCharles Groves , who premiered the work on 25 May 1953.The work is in four movements:
*Allegretto
*Vivace
*Lento
*Allegro con brioCommentators such as Donald Mitchell and Christopher Stasiak have noted Arnold's use of what they characterise as "Gustav Mahler clichés", or Mahlerian style and construction, in this symphony. [cite journal | url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0040-2982(198706%2F09)2%3A161%2F162%3C85%3ATSOMAE%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P | last=Stasiak | first=Christopher | title=The Symphonies of Malcolm Arnold: Eclecticism and the Symphonic Conception | journal=Tempo (New Ser.) | volume=161/162 | issue=1 | pages=85–90 | date=June-September 1987 | accessdate=2008-03-02]
Notable performances
*First performance: 25 May 1953 by the
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted byCharles Groves
*London premiere: 3 June 1953 by theLondon Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the composer
*First broadcast: 9 February 1954 by theBBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted byAlexander Gibson on theBBC Third Programme
*BBC Proms premiere: 8 August 1956 by theBBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composerCommercial recordings
*1955
Malcolm Arnold and theRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra onPhilips Records NBL5021 (re-released on EMI 382 1462)( [http://www.emiclassics.co.uk/release.php?id=160249] )
*1976Charles Groves and theBournemouth Symphony Orchestra onEMI Classics HMV ASD 3353 (LP) CDM 566324-2 (CD)
*1994Vernon Handley and theRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra on Conifer 75605-51240-2 (re-released on Decca 4765337) ( [http://www.malcolmarnold.co.uk/biog/arnoldedition.php] )
*1995Richard Hickox and theLondon Symphony Orchestra onChandos Records CHAN 9335 ( [http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details06.asp?CNumber=CHAN%209335] )
*1996Andrew Penny and theNational Symphony Orchestra of Ireland onNaxos Records 8.553406 ( [http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.553406] )
*2001Douglas Bostock and theRoyal Liverpool Philharmonic on RLPO Live 402P ( [http://www.liverpoolphil.com/productdetail.aspx?pvid=67] )References
External links
* [http://www.malcolmarnold.co.uk/compositions/op40.php Symphony No. 2 from Malcolm Arnold's Official Site]
* [http://www.chesternovello.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=7411# Chester-Novello page on the Symphony] Contains programme notes by the composer.
* [http://www.musicweb.uk.net/Programme_Notes/arnold_sym2.htm A programme note by Paul Serotsky]
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