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The Symphonies

SIR ARNOLD BAX

(1883-1953)

The Symphonies

COMPACT DISC ONE

First Symphony (1921-22)

31:58

in E flat major - in Es-Dur - en mi bémol majeur

for Orchestra

To John Ireland

Allegro moderato e feroce - Moderato espressivo - Tempo I

12:56

Lento solenne

10:34

III

Allegro maestoso - Allegro vivace ma non troppo presto

8:17

Third Symphony (1928-29)

41:51

for Orchestra

To Sir Henry J. Wood

Lento moderato - Allegro moderato -

16:42

Lento

11:12

III

Moderato - Più mosso - Tempo I -

13:48

74:03

COMPACT DISC TWO

Second Symphony (1924-26)

38:54

in E minor and C major - in e-Moll und C-Dur - en mi mineur et ut majeur

for Orchestra

To Serge Koussevitzky

Molto moderato - Allegro moderato -

16:20

Andante - Più mosso - Poco largamente -

12:11

III

Poco largamente - Allegro feroce - Meno mosso -

10:13

Fourth Symphony (1930)

38:19

for Orchestra

To Paul Corder

Allegro moderato

15:35

Lento moderato - Più mosso (Allegro moderato) -

12:45

III

Allegro - Allegro scherzando -

9:50

77:24

COMPACT DISC THREE

Fifth Symphony (1931-32)

37:55

for Orchestra

To Jean Sibelius

Poco lento - Allegro con fuoco -

15:46

Poco lento - Molto tranquillo - Tempo I

10:12

III

Poco moderato - Allegro - Lento - Tempo I (Allegro) -

11:48

Sixth Symphony (1934-35)

35:33

for Orchestra

To Adrian Boult

Moderato - Allegro con fuoco

10:06

Lento, molto espressivo - Andante con moto -

8:19

III

Introduction. Lento moderato - Poco più vivo -

16:57

73:41

COMPACT DISC FOUR

premiere recording

Rogue's Comedy Overture (1936)

9:59

To Julius Harrison

Allegro - Brillante molto

Tintagel (1917-19)

15:13

for Orchestra

To Miss Harriet Cohen

Very moderate tempo - Very quiet - Più mosso -

Seventh Symphony (1938-39)

44:02

To the People of America

Allegro - Poco meno mosso - Tempo I -

16:39

Lento - Più mosso. In Legendary Mood - Tempo I -

13:32

III

Theme and Variations: Allegro -

13:38

69:37

COMPACT DISC FIVE

Interview with Vernon Handley by Andrew McGregor

Introduction

7:53

Bax and Vaughan Williams

1:31

Bax and his musical influences

1:34

First Symphony

6:21

Second Symphony and Third Symphony

15:36

Fourth Symphony

5:06

Fifth Symphony

3:07

Sixth Symphony

7:56

Seventh Symphony

5:37

10.

Epilogue

5:51

60:43

Orchestra:

Conductor: Vernon Handley

4 January 2002 (Third Symphony), 5 January 2002 (Tintagel), 19 December 2002 (Fourth Symphony), 14 January 2003 (Second Symphony), 6-8 August 2003 (Fifth and Seventh Symphonies, Rogue's Comedy Overture),

5 September 2003 (First Symphony)

Icons - Vernon Handley article

'The Essential Recording'

"...Recorded in 2002-03, this was the one major cycle that his legions of fans most wanted. With devoted support from the players and staff of the BBC Philharmonic, this definitive set remains his eloquent last major testament and is positively ablaze with Celtic fire."

Geraint Lewis - Gramophone magazine - February 2020

Vernon Handley is in total sympathy with Bax’s muse and his direction is authoratitive as well as idiomatic. Superb sound from the Chandos and BBC engineers. We would not be without this set. The Penguin Guide - 1000 Greatest Classical Recordings 2011-12

The set has been a labour of love for Vernon Handley - one of the high points of his career. Im hoping that this set, which is the product of 50 years study, will invite people to listen that little bit more often to these wonderful immense works.

Classic FM Magazine 'Disc of the Month'

The BBC Philharmonic under Vernon Handley recently performed Baxs Symphonies Nos 6 and 8 in Manchester, to great critical acclaim:

…a rare occasion of exploration and discovery. Perhaps this anniversary will allow Baxs music to emerge from the shadow of Vaughan Williams. On this evidence, Handley and BBCPO are incomparably equipped to make that happen.

The Guardian

'The BBC Philharmonic's playing is magnificent throughout, while Handley never loses his grip on the music's forceful logic. Works that in some hands, and to some ears, can seem rhapsodic, he reveals as integrally symphonic, for all their big-boned Romantic gestures.'

The Telegraph

In every way Handley has now produced the definitive Bax series - surely beyond criticism.

Gramophone 'Take Five'

Truth to tell, Im still reeling from the impact of this magnificent set; its insights are copious, Chandos layout is ideal (with none of the symphonies split between discs) and the price is tempting too.

Gramophone (Critic's Choice)

The set has been a labour of love for Vernon Handley - one of the high points of his career. 'I'm hoping that this set, which is the product of 50 years' study, will invite people to listen that little bit more often to these wonderful immense works'.'

Handley and the BBC Philharmonic strain all their musical sinews to bring out every detail of these highly wrought and texturally complex works, and Handleys command of structure and pacing is majestic.

'These are interpretations by a conductor who has lived with this music and who is fully at home in the composer's musical world. Beautifully played and recorded, this is the sort of thing that Chandos does incomparably.' 'Truth to tell, I'm still reeling from the impact of this magnificent set; its insights are copious, Chandos' layout is ideal (with none of the symphonies split between discs) and the price is tempting too.'

Gramophone Critic's Choice

Vernon Handley is the ideal conductor for Bax: he understands the music like no other, and it breathes perfectly in his hands.

Fanfare on CHAN 9715 (Bax)

It is a tremendous achievement, the crowning glory of Vernon Handleys dedication to British music in general and to this composer in particular.

Sir Arnold Bax Gramophone 'Take Five'

The BBC Philharmonics playing is magnificent throughout, while Handley never loses his grip on the musics forceful logic. Works that in some hands, and to some ears, can seem rhapsodic, he reveals as integrally symphonic, for all their big-boned Romantic gestures.

Handley, the BBC Philharmonic, executive producer Brian Pidgeon and the Chandos engineers give us sonic glories in spades. These discs transport us to windswept coastlines, the ocean floor, pagan dances and the nobility of love, defeat, death and triumph… This is a wonderful set of compelling haunting music; it deserves to spread joy not just over Christmas but for life.

The Times

Every now and then, a series of recordings appears that changes the music world just a little, prompts a re-evaluation, draws us towards repertory we might otherwise have ignored… These probing interpretations venture beyond the surfaces to the musics inner workings. Handley is the ideal guide, the BBC Philharmonic the ideal instrument for the job and you also get Tintagel, a premiere recording of Rogues Comedy Overture and a revealing recorded interview with Andrew McGregor. Superb sound, too.

The Independent

…this splended Fingerhut and Handley performance brings a reassessment and the works strengths, particularly its appealing slow movement, are revealed.

BBC Music Magazine on CHAN 9715 (Bax)

Handleys readings are generally volatile and urgent, and he brings out some of the musics violence and incipient touches of modernism better that his rivals.

BBC Music Magazine (Performance: maximum rating 5*

Having already become enthralled by Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Delius and 'Jack' Moeran, this beautiful set of symphonies has been a most rewarding purchase; I have particularly enjoyed listening to Vernon 'Tod' Hanley talk about the work. Perhaps being an expat in Australia has heightened my love of British music or maybe I have always been a hopeless romantic but a hit of 'lossless' Bax on my iPod is an essential part of the day!

G Mitchell

My Wish List

Bax: The Symphonies

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The Symphonies

SIR ARNOLD BAX

First Symphony (1921-22)

Third Symphony (1928-29)

Second Symphony (1924-26)

Fourth Symphony (1930)

Fifth Symphony (1931-32)

Sixth Symphony (1934-35)

Rogue's Comedy Overture (1936)

Tintagel (1917-19)

Seventh Symphony (1938-39)

Why not buy the whole Album?

The Symphonies

SIR ARNOLD BAX

First Symphony (1921-22)

Third Symphony (1928-29)

Second Symphony (1924-26)

Fourth Symphony (1930)

Fifth Symphony (1931-32)

Sixth Symphony (1934-35)

Rogue's Comedy Overture (1936)

Tintagel (1917-19)

Seventh Symphony (1938-39)

Interview with Vernon Handley by Andrew McGregor

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