harrumph
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« Reply #15 on: 12:55:33, 15-03-2007 » |
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...I came to Bax via the Lyrita records of the 70's... I discovered Bax's First Symphony in my teens from the Lyrita LP. Somehow, the first time I played it, I put it on at 45rpm - entirely accidentally. What a fantastic piece! High timpani like Janacek's, brilliantly played stratospheric trumpets, and so angry! Then I realised my mistake, and played it at the correct speed. And lost much of that musical excitement...  Now I'm older and have slowed down a bit, I enjoy the symphony at the right speed - but I'd still give the CD a whirl at 45rpm from time to time if only it were possible  |
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« Last Edit: 12:57:25, 15-03-2007 by harrumph »
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #16 on: 17:02:14, 15-03-2007 » |
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There will be an interview with biographer of Bax. They said that he had interesting sex life and who wants to know should listen to announcement closer to the time he will be interviewed on Music matters.
I did not get the name of the writer, but I am planning to listen. I want to know more about Bax, his life, his music. I am now converted to his fan.
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« Last Edit: 17:24:32, 15-03-2007 by trained-pianist »
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Bax-of-Delights
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« Reply #17 on: 17:03:38, 15-03-2007 » |
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harrumph - I've still got my Lyrita records. I'll give the First a whirl at 45 and see what comes up  The 7th has just finished. I still find this particular symphony very touching especially the feeling of farewell in the closing pages. And that beautiful tune in the slow movement fair melts the heart...  |
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Bax-of-Delights
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« Reply #18 on: 17:18:22, 15-03-2007 » |
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t-p
Good to hear you are a convert to Arnold Bax. His sound world can seem extremely dense at times but repays many lsitenings. Like chocolates, don't eat too many at one go....
Bax was a bit of a womaniser. He divorced his first wife after some affair which entailed him cycling to some woods near Marlow, Bucks and meeting up clandestinely with a young lady. It is said that "November Woods" may be indicative of his state of mind at that time...
After his divorce he stayed single but had a number of lady friends, the most important of whom was Harriet Cohen, a pianist. She was bombed out of her house during the second world war but never took up permanently with AB. He was now living at the White Horse pub in Storrington, Sussex (not far from me) and Harriet I believe bought a house on the outskirts of the village. He duly paid his respects...
Whenever I drive through Storrington I imagine AB sitting in the snug bar at the White Horse and looking out on the comings and goings of the locals. In the 40's Storrington would have been a fairly sleepy village. Here's a picture of AB having a chat with one of the pub locals.
I've also attached a picture of AB in 1945 - not a Valentino exactly!!
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« Last Edit: 17:19:53, 15-03-2007 by Bax-of-Delights »
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Bax-of-Delights
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« Reply #19 on: 17:21:33, 15-03-2007 » |
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And here's a picture of AB with his good (drinking) friend E.J.Moeran whose Symphony is well worth tracking down. Lyrita have just reissued the magical Boult recording. Go get it!
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #20 on: 17:29:20, 15-03-2007 » |
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Thank you, Bax-of-Delights. Is your vivatar picture of Bax when he was young? I find the whole thing is fascinating. I really think his music speaks to me and I am planning to explore it more.
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Bax-of-Delights
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« Reply #21 on: 18:31:45, 15-03-2007 » |
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Yes t-p, that's AB when a young fellow.
He was still a handsome fellow into the early 30's but I think the grog made him stouter and to judge by his studio portrait of 1945 he had a fairly "burnished" complexion!!
Lewis Foreman is to do the talk on AB next week. He has written many articles and a book (I think recently reissued) on AB. There is also another biography by Sutherland Scott but that is a little dry. Arnold Bax wrote as "Dermot O'Byrne" in the early years of the 20th century. The loss of many of his friends during the 1916 Irish uprising seems to have left him bereft. There is a constant undercurrent of loss and yearning throughout his symphonies which, I think, reflects this vanished world.
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offbeat
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« Reply #22 on: 22:50:05, 15-03-2007 » |
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Bax's short autobiography 'Farewell My Youth' is a fascinating account of his early life - he describes one time he was infatuated with a russian girl but sadly it did not work out even though he went to russia to follow her. a lot of his writing as well as his music is highly romantised !
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Stanley Stewart
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« Reply #23 on: 20:46:30, 22-03-2007 » |
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The MDT Newsletter for April releases include a new biography "Bax: A Composer And His Times" by Lewis Foreman. Boydell Press (Book) Hardback 616 pages £29 95 www.mdt.co.uk e-mail info@mdt.co.uk |
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smittims
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« Reply #24 on: 11:33:50, 23-03-2007 » |
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The intersting thing about Bax' sex life wa that for many many years, up to his death in fact,poor Harriet Cohen imagined she was the only woman in his life,to whom he had turned from his collapsed marriage,whereas in fact he had been carrying on with Mary Gleaves for years,taking her to Scotland etc.and all entirely without Harriet's knowledge.It was a terrible shock to her to discover this after his death.
Creative artists seem to have a need to live two lives ;one thinks of JMW Turner,and Stravinsky.
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Stanley Stewart
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« Reply #25 on: 14:33:15, 23-03-2007 » |
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# 24 smittims,
Can you recall the title of the BBC documentary - much later than Monitor - which covered Arnold Bax's duplicitous life with Harriet Cohen? Probably filmed in the early 80's. I keep thinking that there was a reference to Tintagel but I'm not so sure. Perhaps I'll have to wait until the new biography is published.
Your comments re dual lives, also reminded me of A J Ackerley and Kenneth Tynan's father.
Bws, Stanley
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George Garnett
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« Reply #26 on: 17:05:51, 23-03-2007 » |
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I don't know whether this is the one you were thinking of, Richard, but there was a Ken Russell film 'The Secret Life of Arnold Bax' which he made for London Weekend Television (as was) for the South Bank Show. 1992 I discover having just googled.
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Stanley Stewart
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« Reply #27 on: 17:40:03, 23-03-2007 » |
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# 26 Many thanks, George. Incidentally, you may know me as Stanley S (on t'other boards!).
South Bank Show 1992. Well, then, I must return to my garage archives as I'm likely to have an off-air recording and would like to see it again.
I was tempted to join your rendezvous with Ollie & co last week and can't tell you how much I enjoyed your comparison of a younger Peter Brook - leather jacket et al. Laughed so much. Spot on. However, a visit to my friends in London would necessarily have included seeing "J G Borkman" - I saw the Richardson/Ashcroft/Hiller NT production much earlier and the later (1995?) NT revival with Redgrave, Scofield & Atkins so was very keen to go to The Donmar. I read your recent comment with relish and a touch of envy. However, I've just invested in a new Dell/Vista computer (ask me NOT about its mysteries) so a trip "to town" had to be postponed.
All good wishes, Stanley
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George Garnett
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« Reply #28 on: 18:03:17, 23-03-2007 » |
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Well I can return the envy, Stanley, as to my very great regret I didn't see Richardson's Borkman but did see the astonishing Scofield etc production (in 1996 it was in my case). Included in the 'etc' there (shome etshetera) were not only Redgrave and Atkins as you mention but also one of my great heroes Michael Bryant as the perfect Vilhelm Foldahl. That really was something.
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« Last Edit: 18:04:51, 23-03-2007 by George Garnett »
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #29 on: 23:06:39, 24-03-2007 » |
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 Is this the woman that he was in love with and who thought he only saw her? |
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