Sir Arnold Bax

[vandermolen]

Most interesting RS and f and p 
I was just happily playing my new Naxos CD of 'English Music for Viola' and when the gloomy opening chords of Bax's 'Legend' started I sat bolt upright, thinking 'What is this?' I must have payed it about ten times now and can't understand how I missed it before. Despite being a short chamber work it has something of the oppressive and turbulent atmosphere of the Second Symphony and IMO inhabits the same spiritual world of the Piano Quintet - what a discovery!

[Roasted Swan]

Most interesting RS and f and p 
I was just happily playing my new Naxos CD of 'English Music for Viola' and when the gloomy opening chords of Bax's 'Legend' started I sat bolt upright, thinking 'What is this?' I must have payed it about ten times now and can't understand how I missed it before. Despite being a short chamber work it has something of the oppressive and turbulent atmosphere of the Second Symphony and IMO inhabits the same spiritual world of the Piano Quintet - what a discovery!

Yes absolutely - its a real gem.  According to Graham Parlett's wonderful catalogue it dates from 1929 just after the 2 Piano Sonata & 3rd Symphony and just before Winter Legends so really Bax at his peak.  Also, Parlett says; "the work was apparently 'inspired' by Herbert Read's peom "This X".

On a slight tangent - another revelatory performance of a powerfully concise Bax work was flagged up on another Bax forum recently.  Its a video of the Rhapsodic Ballad for solo cello

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKuxXncYXu0

This is a remarkable work and shamefully little known.  12 minutes of solo cello would tax any composer.  There is a CD performance that many reading this will know but simply put this is a far more impressive performance

[vandermolen]

Yes absolutely - its a real gem.  According to Graham Parlett's wonderful catalogue it dates from 1929 just after the 2 Piano Sonata & 3rd Symphony and just before Winter Legends so really Bax at his peak.  Also, Parlett says; "the work was apparently 'inspired' by Herbert Read's peom "This X".

On a slight tangent - another revelatory performance of a powerfully concise Bax work was flagged up on another Bax forum recently.  Its a video of the Rhapsodic Ballad for solo cello

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKuxXncYXu0

This is a remarkable work and shamefully little known.  12 minutes of solo cello would tax any composer.  There is a CD performance that many reading this will know but simply put this is a far more impressive performance

Totally agree, the 'Legend for Viola and Piano' is vintage Bax.

[Biffo]

I listened to the Bax Legend yesterday to remind myself of it - gloomy and atmospheric. I have it played by Paul Coletti viola and Leslie Howard piano (Helios)

[vandermolen]

I listened to the Bax Legend yesterday to remind myself of it - gloomy and atmospheric. I have it played by Paul Coletti viola and Leslie Howard piano (Helios)

I'm sure that I have that recording...somewhere!
There's also an alternative Naxos recording on an all Bax CD.

[kyjo]

On a slight tangent - another revelatory performance of a powerfully concise Bax work was flagged up on another Bax forum recently.  Its a video of the Rhapsodic Ballad for solo cello

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKuxXncYXu0

This is a remarkable work and shamefully little known.  12 minutes of solo cello would tax any composer.  There is a CD performance that many reading this will know but simply put this is a far more impressive performance

Thanks for bringing this video to our attention! The Rhapsodic Ballad is a powerful work and it's interesting to hear Bax composing for just a solo string instrument instead of a full orchestra. It's a great addition to the solo cello repertoire - I really ought to learn it at some point!

[Symphonic Addict]

I heard the Legend for viola and piano following the recommendations here. An eloquent and atmospheric work. It has its merits, but I felt the piano part more attractive, with nicer ideas.

[Irons]

I'm sure that I have that recording...somewhere!
There's also an alternative Naxos recording on an all Bax CD.

Going way back the infamous Barrington-Coupe released a recording on his Delta label.

[vandermolen]

Going way back the infamous Barrington-Coupe released a recording on his Delta label.

I assume that's a genuine release Lol. Interestingly I ordered the two genuine Joyca Hatto releases (CD Bax, Symphonic Variations, 4th Symphony etc) but he also threw in one of the bogus Rachmaninov releases.

[Irons]

I assume that's a genuine release Lol. Interestingly I ordered the two genuine Joyca Hatto releases (CD Bax, Symphonic Variations, 4th Symphony etc) but he also threw in one of the bogus Rachmaninov releases.

It is Jeffrey. Would go as far to say the Elgar Quintet is my favourite recording of the work. I would like to think that Joyce Hatto was relatively innocent and Barrington-Coupe used his wife shamefully. What did you think of her Bax?

[Roasted Swan]

It is Jeffrey. Would go as far to say the Elgar Quintet is my favourite recording of the work. I would like to think that Joyce Hatto was relatively innocent and Barrington-Coupe used his wife shamefully. What did you think of her Bax?

Part of the "problem" for Hatto when she recorded the Bax Symphonic Variations was that the orchestral parts (and the solo part) was riddled with errors.  Also, Harriet Cohen - long past her concertising days - was ferociously (jelously?) protective of the Bax scores and deeply resented that anyone but her should make the first recording.  I used to own all the Revolution/Bax LP's but consigned them to a 2nd hand shop almost as soon as the Fingerhut versions became available which were finer in every respect - sorry Joyce!

[Daverz]

Part of the "problem" for Hatto when she recorded the Bax Symphonic Variations was that the orchestral parts (and the solo part) was riddled with errors.  Also, Harriet Cohen - long past her concertising days - was ferociously (jelously?) protective of the Bax scores and deeply resented that anyone but her should make the first recording.  I used to own all the Revolution/Bax LP's but consigned them to a 2nd hand shop almost as soon as the Fingerhut versions became available which were finer in every respect - sorry Joyce!

I think the Ashley Wass recordings are even better than Fingerhut.

[vandermolen]

It is Jeffrey. Would go as far to say the Elgar Quintet is my favourite recording of the work. I would like to think that Joyce Hatto was relatively innocent and Barrington-Coupe used his wife shamefully. What did you think of her Bax?

Oh, I like it Lol, although I don't have RS's technical musical insight. Also, there's something about the atmosphere of that Hatto Symphonic Variations which appealed to me. One of my earliest encounters with Bax was that and Vernon Handley's Guildford recording of the 4th Symphony - I was delighted when it reappeared on CD and had a nice letter exchange with the infamous Barrington-Coupe about it. When he sent me the two Bax CDs he kindly sent an additional freebie of fraudulent Rachmaninov recordings - a most strange business, which instead of enhancing his wife's reputation actually had the opposite effect.

[Roasted Swan]

I think the Ashley Wass recordings are even better than Fingerhut.

I agree - but the comment was based on comparing the 'old' Hatto to the then 'new' Fingerhut.  I liked Wass in the Piano Sonatas as well but he seems to have been dropped by Naxos/any other recording company which is a shame

[vandermolen]

I agree - but the comment was based on comparing the 'old' Hatto to the then 'new' Fingerhut.  I liked Wass in the Piano Sonatas as well but he seems to have been dropped by Naxos/any other recording company which is a shame
[/quote

I like Wass as well especially the VW Piano Concerto.

[Roasted Swan]

I agree - but the comment was based on comparing the 'old' Hatto to the then 'new' Fingerhut.  I liked Wass in the Piano Sonatas as well but he seems to have been dropped by Naxos/any other recording company which is a shame
[/quote

I like Wass as well especially the VW Piano Concerto.

+1 for that RVW disc.  But I'd also add James Judd as a generally under-appreciated conductor.  One of those people who has a substantial discography - and I can't think of a single dud - but he's never had a glamorous "house" contract with say Chandos or Hyperion although I generally think he's a better conductor than say Edward Gardner

[vandermolen]

+1 for that RVW disc.  But I'd also add James Judd as a generally under-appreciated conductor.  One of those people who has a substantial discography - and I can't think of a single dud - but he's never had a glamorous "house" contract with say Chandos or Hyperion although I generally think he's a better conductor than say Edward Gardner

+1 for James Judd.
There is a very fine Copland Symphony 3 and Lilburn symphonies from him on Naxos.

[Irons]

Part of the "problem" for Hatto when she recorded the Bax Symphonic Variations was that the orchestral parts (and the solo part) was riddled with errors.  Also, Harriet Cohen - long past her concertising days - was ferociously (jelously?) protective of the Bax scores and deeply resented that anyone but her should make the first recording.  I used to own all the Revolution/Bax LP's but consigned them to a 2nd hand shop almost as soon as the Fingerhut versions became available which were finer in every respect - sorry Joyce!

As Jeffrey has already alluded to, non-musical trained listeners are not necessary looking for the "best" or the most perfect performance. To be perfectly honest performance errors would pass me by anyway. Other factors come into play, historical and authenticity to name but two. I would not dispatch Joyce or any other performer because a later more note perfect recording. If I did that half my record collection would be wiped out!

[Roasted Swan]

As Jeffrey has already alluded to, non-musical trained listeners are not necessary looking for the "best" or the most perfect performance. To be perfectly honest performance errors would pass me by anyway. Other factors come into play, historical and authenticity to name but two. I would not dispatch Joyce or any other performer because a later more note perfect recording. If I did that half my record collection would be wiped out!

No such thing as a perfect performance of anything!  And 'best' is wholly subjective anyway.  For me Fingerhut/Waas are "better" especially when LP vs. CD and general engineering are factored in as well.

[vandermolen]

I found this interesting, although don't always agree with his verdicts:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/nov03/Bax_Adams.htm