Sir Arnold Bax

[Irons]

Runt of the litter? GMG Bax enthusiasts with far more insight of the composer then I, do not rate this performance/recording. However, I was determined to listen with an open mind. The first movement just does not sound right, lacking in dynamism and unusually for Lyrita a muddy unfocussed recording. I thought the slow movement meandered somewhat. The heart of the work third movement, I enjoyed very much, but I think this is more down to the composer then Del Mar and his recording team.
I listened back to back with Thomson (CD) on Chandos. Again not a great recording, but Thomson is far more robust and dynamic in the first movement. Bax produces a strange sound, like striking wood blocks, in the finale and this came across louder and clearer on Lyrita - one of few plus points.
Lyrita Bax 6 is early (1966), the next in the series was not until the early 1970's. A Kingsway Hall recording by James Lock and Gordon Parry, where if I recall correctly the rest of the Bax Lyrita set came from Walthamstow.    

[DavidW]

Runt of the litter?

Ouch! I really like that recording. This is the copy I have:

[kyjo]

Runt of the litter? GMG Bax enthusiasts with far more insight of the composer then I, do not rate this performance/recording. However, I was determined to listen with an open mind. The first movement just does not sound right, lacking in dynamism and unusually for Lyrita a muddy unfocussed recording. I thought the slow movement meandered somewhat. The heart of the work third movement, I enjoyed very much, but I think this is more down to the composer then Del Mar and his recording team.
I listened back to back with Thomson (CD) on Chandos. Again not a great recording, but Thomson is far more robust and dynamic in the first movement. Bax produces a strange sound, like striking wood blocks, in the finale and this came across louder and clearer on Lyrita - one of few plus points.
Lyrita Bax 6 is early (1966), the next in the series was not until the early 1970's. A Kingsway Hall recording by James Lock and Gordon Parry, where if I recall correctly the rest of the Bax Lyrita set came from Walthamstow.     

To the first bolded text: What makes you say that? The Sixth is often critically regarded as Bax's finest symphony - I'm not sure I would single it out above the others, but it's certainly a powerful work, especially in the epic, substantial finale. But if I recall correctly, Jeffrey (vandermolen) said it's his least favorite Bax symphony.

To the second bolded text: I agree - in fact I think the slow movements are the (comparative) weak points of most of Bax's symphonies, with the notable exception of the tensely brooding central movement of the First. Bax could certainly be a gifted melodist, but he seems to struggle to come up with memorable thematic material in his symphonic slow movements.

[Irons]

To the first bolded text: What makes you say that? The Sixth is often critically regarded as Bax's finest symphony - I'm not sure I would single it out above the others, but it's certainly a powerful work, especially in the epic, substantial finale. But if I recall correctly, Jeffrey (vandermolen) said it's his least favorite Bax symphony.

To the second bolded text: I agree - in fact I think the slow movements are the (comparative) weak points of most of Bax's symphonies, with the notable exception of the tensely brooding central movement of the First. Bax could certainly be a gifted melodist, but he seems to struggle to come up with memorable thematic material in his symphonic slow movements.

As per usual not made myself clear. The litter I'm referring to is not Bax symphonies but  recordings of 6th symphonies only.

Edit: I thought the following sentence made this clear ?

[Roasted Swan]

To the first bolded text: What makes you say that? The Sixth is often critically regarded as Bax's finest symphony - I'm not sure I would single it out above the others, but it's certainly a powerful work, especially in the epic, substantial finale. But if I recall correctly, Jeffrey (vandermolen) said it's his least favorite Bax symphony.

To the second bolded text: I agree - in fact I think the slow movements are the (comparative) weak points of most of Bax's symphonies, with the notable exception of the tensely brooding central movement of the First. Bax could certainly be a gifted melodist, but he seems to struggle to come up with memorable thematic material in his symphonic slow movements.

The main melody of the slow movement of the 2nd Symphony is one of Bax's great tunes - achingly beautiful I reckon.  No.3's Lento is pretty fine too and I like No.7's slow movement as well.

[kyjo]

As per usual not made myself clear. The litter I'm referring to is not Bax symphonies but  recordings of 6th symphonies only.

Edit: I thought the following sentence made this clear ?

Ah okay, thanks for clarifying.

[kyjo]

The main melody of the slow movement of the 2nd Symphony is one of Bax's great tunes - achingly beautiful I reckon.  No.3's Lento is pretty fine too and I like No.7's slow movement as well.

I'll have to re-listen to No. 2 soon and keep an ear out for that tune you mention! And yes, I do recall No. 7's slow movement being quite beautiful - it carries the characteristically Baxian indication "In Legendary Mood".

[arpeggio]

I realize that this may be pretentious on my part.

I have completed listening to all of the Bax recordings that I recently purchased.

I have a nice software program I have recorded all of my CD's.  (It is called Classicat and it uses the old Microsoft Dbase program.  It is sadly out of print.)

It produces a nice report that lists all the Bax recordings in my library.

So I thought I would post it here.  You will notice I am a onesie and twosies guy. Instead of ten copies of his First Symphony, I have one or two copies of most of his music that has been recorded.

[vandermolen]

I never liked Del Mar's recording of the 6th Symphony which sounds oddly 'boxed in' to me. For decades this was the only recording available. The more recent recordings by Bryden Thomson and David Lloyd Jones are much better. I don't know the Handley recording and I gather that somewhere in the BBC archives there is a recording by Adrian Boult.

[Roasted Swan]

Thanks to one of the Bax forums on Facebook and the work of folk who make the effort and take the time to post to YouTube here is a real recorded rarity;

Bax fans are ever in the debt of Myer Fredman for his wonderful Lyrita recordings of the 1st & 2nd Symphonies.  But I had no clue he'd made this commercial LP of No.3 as well (this transfer is a very good one from a pretty mint LP pressing).  TBH not at the level of the Lyrita discs but a delight to hear another take on this great work.

[Roasted Swan]

Another well-handled LP transfer of a classic Bax LP performance.  This time "The Tale the Pine Trees knew" from Vernon Handley and the Guildford PO.  The sound was never great and the playing hardly top drawer but its prime Handley.....

On YouTube its worth following https://www.youtube.com/@MusicAndVinyl who does a tremendous job with these transfers and posts

[vandermolen]

Another well-handled LP transfer of a classic Bax LP performance.  This time "The Tale the Pine Trees knew" from Vernon Handley and the Guildford PO.  The sound was never great and the playing hardly top drawer but its prime Handley.....

On YouTube its worth following https://www.youtube.com/@MusicAndVinyl who does a tremendous job with these transfers and posts

A fine pioneering old LP! Remember it well 

[Irons]

A fine pioneering old LP! Remember it well 

And there is more!

[Roasted Swan]

And there is more!

Back in my LP collecting days these Revolution discs were rare/expensive and I remember being so pleased when I finally tracked copies down!

[Irons]

Back in my LP collecting days these Revolution discs were rare/expensive and I remember being so pleased when I finally tracked copies down!

Yes, excellent Elgar and Ireland too. Interesting to compare Barrington-Coupe and Richard Itter, as both had a deep love for English music and inspired from small beginnings to establish a record label. Where the similarities parted was the character of the two. Barrington-Coupe was deep down a rascal, bit of a lovable rogue. He could have enjoyed the success of Itter but could not help himself. His poor wife who suffered the consequences.

A genuine Hatto recording.

[Roasted Swan]

Just today the first newsletter from the resurgent Arnold Bax Society - https://sirarnoldbaxsociety.com/ (which I'd warmly encourage people to join/support).  Lots of interesting/valuable interviews and reviews including one with Italian cellist Domenico Emirio whose performance of the solo cello Rhapsodic Ballad on YouTube is genuinely the finest version of this major but elusive work I have heard;

But an article that I found particularly interesting is one by a heart specialist theorising on Bax's heart and the implications it had for his health.  The change in Bax's outward appearance from slim youth to early-aged, ruddy and overweight is well-known and often attributed to a fondness for drink.  With the obvious caveat that this is a 'diagnosis' based on second hand evidence he comes to the conclusion that Bax had a hole in his heart.  Everything from his rejection for service in WW1 (he was examined by the pre-eminent heart specialist of the time and his report was preserved by Harriet Cohen), to detailed and highly accurate portraits and photographs indicate a gradual decline in health as the condition worsened.  Part of this would impact on his mental acuity and focus which in turn explains the significant drop-off in musical output over a short number of years.  I don't want to copy the article extensively here - you'll need to join the Society for that! - but here are a couple of telling excerpts;

"Mackenzie's findings are a diagnostic of a 'hole in the heart' between the two main pumping chambers (the right and left ventricles) called a ventricular septal defect. The murmur is caused by turbulent blood flowing through the hole. This is one of the commonest congenital heart conditions we see and in the modern era they are usually picked up at routine screening and monitored or corrected as required. In the pre-surgical era this was not a luxury available to Bax.

Initially, Bax would have experienced palpitations caused by high pressure blood going through the hole; he would have felt distracted and uncomfortable, especially in stressful situations. However, he could have remained fit enough to live ordinarily; Bax's appearance at this time is of a young fit man as seen below. He wrote prodigiously, with 1000 minutes of music across orchestral and chamber works, songs, and piano solos. Bax, as photographed by childhood friend Paul Corder. In the 1920s now, Bax's heart is changing shape to cope with the constant pressure through the hole. Bax would indeed by breathless on even minimal physical effort. There would have been congestion of the veins in his legs and liver. Compositionally, this was his most prolific phase and this may be in part related to his need to find sedentary occupation. From 1920 to 1939 he wrote over 2000 minutes of music including his seven numbered symphonies. He wrote almost no songs or piano works. From 1939 onwards there is a precipitous drop in Bax's compositional output: he wrote only 320 minutes of music in his final 14 years despite being at the peak of his powers as a composer.

This likely coincides with the onset of the final phase of Bax's illness. At some stage in this period of his life, the muscular overgrowth of the right ventricle and the pressure on the right side of the heart would have become so severe that it began pushing blood the wrong way through the hole. This means that low oxygen blood was being pumped around the whole body by the left ventricle: the blood is essentially bypassing the lungs. The medical term for this is 'shunt reversal' or Eisenmenger's syndrome. During this period Bax would have felt light-headed, exhausted, and very unwell. It would have blunted his intellect and made even light physical work a huge effort. Bax's shuffling walk and ruddy complexion are described by Mrs Elinson Hedwig Stein who lived in Storrington at the same time as Bax. Bax would have been physiologically intolerant of more than a small amount of alcohol; being a 'systemic vasodilator', it would make the circulation work even harder, dramatically worsening his symptoms."

"Written so soon after his consultation with Mackenzie I now listen to November Woods with a new understanding of the pain he was feeling. Bax wrote: "If there are sounds in the music which recall the screaming of the wind and cracking of strained branches, I hope they may suggest deeper things at the same time. The middle part may be taken a dream of happier days, such as sometimes come in the intervals of stress either physical or mental."