Bax-of-Delights
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« on: 16:51:08, 12-03-2007 » |
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Delighted as I am to see a cycle of the Bax symphonies on Afternoon Performance it worries me a little that we are getting all seven symphonies crammed into four days.  I came to Bax via the Lyrita records of the 70's and took them one by one over a period of many months. I have the pleasure of being able to re-listen to the week's offerings with his sound world fully logged in my imagination. For newcomers I would argue Bax is definitely an acquired taste and a rich one to boot - certainly not one to try and gulp down in one week. Tod Handley's Bax cycle is one of the joys of recorded music - I'm just listening to the second movement of the 1st and the hairs on the back of my head are bristling - oh, how I wish we could get a Proms performance! For newcomers I would suggest the 2nd and 6th as starting points but others might have other ideas. |
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« Last Edit: 16:53:14, 12-03-2007 by Bax-of-Delights »
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Kittybriton
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« Reply #1 on: 17:11:30, 12-03-2007 » |
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As a student I was introduced to Bax's "Tintagel" but have never really explored further, which is probably my loss.
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Click me -> About meor me -> my handmade storeNo, I'm not a complete idiot. I'm only a halfwit. In fact I'm actually a catfish. |
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Bax-of-Delights
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Posts: 11
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« Reply #2 on: 17:24:59, 12-03-2007 » |
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Kittybriton,
Most come to Bax via "Tintagel" or "The Garden of Fand" which is the natural path. Both are very fine pieces but tend to be the ONLY items that get played on a regular basis either on the radio or in the concert hall.
There has been an unwillingness on behalf of Kenyon and the Proms to programme any symphonic Bax for many, many years which would seem a paradox in the light of the awards showered on Handley and the recently recorded cycle of the symphonies.
The symphonies open up a much larger horizon than the Celtic impressionism of the two famous pieces listed above and, in my opinion,should place Bax on a higher plane than he presently enjoys in the public perception.
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #3 on: 17:34:27, 12-03-2007 » |
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Anything which promotes the music of Arnold Bax is to be welcomed, although I agree that seven symphonies in four days is a bit tricky. As well as the two famous tone poems mentioned above, 'The Tale the Pine Trees Knew', 'November Woods' and 'Spring Fire' are well worth hearing. I'd love to hear more (some) Bax in concert. The only time a Bax piece (Tintagel) was ever scheduled at a concert I was going to, Tod Handley was indisposed. The Bax was one of the 'audience choices' but the 'sub', David Porcelijn, didn't know it, so they played the alternative...In the South, I think it was. Porcelijn admitted to the audience (to gasps of horror) that he had never heard of Bax, but that he had gone out and bought a recording of 'Tintagel' and promised he would programme it at a future London concert. Given that Roger Wright has allowed the Bax cycle to be broadcast a few times now in recent years, might we be hopeful for some Proms appearances?  |
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Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency
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teleplasm
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« Reply #4 on: 18:42:03, 12-03-2007 » |
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I would recommend anyone to start with the highly cinematic Third Symphony, and preferably in a faded old recording to create the illusion of a sound-track. Then lie back and imagine.
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reiner_torheit
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« Reply #5 on: 18:55:39, 12-03-2007 » |
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This is Rodger Wright's new way of programming music, and it's based on the timetable of the 73 bus....
... you don't see one for ages, then seven come along at once.
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They say travel broadens the mind - but in many cases travel has made the mind not exactly broader, but thicker.
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #6 on: 19:59:27, 12-03-2007 » |
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I am listening to Spring Fire symphony by Bax. It is very beautiful. I did not expect the Bax wrote such a beautiful music.
Is this symphony number one? Or it has no number because it wasnot performed during his life?
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #7 on: 20:11:18, 12-03-2007 » |
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Interesting, t-p. It certainly predates his First Symphony, having been written in 1913, but I think Bax conceived it as a 'freely worked symphony' with descriptive titles in five movements. It does seem appropriate that it was used to kick off the Bax cycle this afternoon. A lovely work...I might use 'Listen Again' later to catch up with it. I'd imagine Mark Elder would do a very good job with Bax.
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Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #8 on: 20:19:11, 12-03-2007 » |
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In this case Bax has 8 symphonies. So much good music is hardly ever played.
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offbeat
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« Reply #9 on: 22:31:44, 12-03-2007 » |
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The Lyrita series in the sixties got me into the Bax world and although find some of his main themes rather bland there is always something underneath which is extraordinary - like you say BOD The mysterious second movement of symphony 1 My personal favourite is symphony 6 (a great recording on lyrita by norman del mar) music full of poetry and beauty - his chamber and piano music are also worth a listen  |
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #10 on: 00:29:25, 13-03-2007 » |
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Bax is one of those composers that I have marked for further exploration at a later date. I played his clarinet sonata when I could (I think that it was one of my A-Level exam pieces now that I think on't). Nice. My piano teacher accompanied me and took me to task for my choice of music and at the time I really lacked the critical vocabulary to argue back. But she didn't convince me either!  I'm not going to be in at the right times to listen to the Bax this week, so I'm afraid he goes back on my little list. Thanks for flagging this up BoD (incidentally, a late Christmas present arrived today: the complete Bod). |
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'is this all we can do?' anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965) http://www.myspace.com/itensemble |
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #11 on: 08:54:13, 13-03-2007 » |
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This Spring Fire symphony was good. I think Bax did not fit with time. Were he born earlier he would be much more successful. There were new trends and fashions in music at the time when he was most active.
His instrumentation and the whole thrust and flow of composition is very good, pleasant and entertaining.
This is just after one listening. I need more exposure to his music.
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #12 on: 09:01:56, 14-03-2007 » |
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There was Bax quartet played on breakfast show. I am beginning to know his musical style, which is very romantic.
I am glad that other programmes pick up on the subject of composer in focus on other programmes and join in exploring the subject.
The quartet was called Lyrical Interlude for String Quintet.
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thompson1780
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« Reply #13 on: 22:50:27, 14-03-2007 » |
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I liked the quintet. It reminded me of Delius. Did Bax and Delius share a musical heritage / tuition?
Tommo
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Made by Thompson & son, at the Violin & c. the West end of St. Paul's Churchyard, LONDON
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John W
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« Reply #14 on: 23:31:36, 14-03-2007 » |
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Well I believe most of Delius' education was in Euope and USA while Bax was taught at RAM (by Corder and Matthay) and influenced by Irish folk music (he travelled much in Ireland).
John W
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