Sir Arnold Bax

[arpeggio]

I discovered that I did not have a recording of the following works:

[Irons]

Arnold Bax was very good for Chandos. In the early introduction of CD, Chandos were unable to keep up with demand for a Bryden Thomson disk conducting tone poems. Due to this success unsurprisingly the label decided to record a full set of Bax symphonies of which the 4th Symphony was the first, issued in 1983.
Not an obvious choice as I do not find the 4th the most memorable of the set. Bax captures swirling oceans brilliantly but unlike the preceding three symphonies I did detect some note spinning.
Bryden Thomson is a fine conductor of the composer, excellent at overall sweep of the music. The sound of this very early digital recordings is not the best but oddly the first, the only one with the Ulster Symphony, is superior in that regard to the rest of the set with the London Philharmonic.

[Roasted Swan]

Arnold Bax was very good for Chandos. In the early introduction of CD, Chandos were unable to keep up with demand for a Bryden Thomson disk conducting tone poems. Due to this success unsurprisingly the label decided to record a full set of Bax symphonies of which the 4th Symphony was the first, issued in 1983.
Not an obvious choice as I do not find the 4th the most memorable of the set. Bax captures swirling oceans brilliantly but unlike the preceding three symphonies I did detect some note spinning.
Bryden Thomson is a fine conductor of the composer, excellent at overall sweep of the music. The sound of this very early digital recordings is not the best but oddly the first, the only one with the Ulster Symphony, is superior in that regard to the rest of the set with the London Philharmonic.

I always assumed the reason No.4 was recorded first was simply because at that time it was the only one of the 7 not to have received a good quality recording - the Guildford PO version on Revolution Records was pretty ropey sonically and in terms of playing.  I still rate those Ulster/Chandos recordings as technically some of their finest with little or no allowance needing to be made for being "early digital".  The genuine sorrow is that Thomson recorded the bulk of the cycle in All Saints Tooting which did cause significant audio problems early on.

[arpeggio]

Arnold Bax was very good for Chandos. In the early introduction of CD, Chandos were unable to keep up with demand for a Bryden Thomson disk conducting tone poems. Due to this success unsurprisingly the label decided to record a full set of Bax symphonies of which the 4th Symphony was the first, issued in 1983.
Not an obvious choice as I do not find the 4th the most memorable of the set. Bax captures swirling oceans brilliantly but unlike the preceding three symphonies I did detect some note spinning.
Bryden Thomson is a fine conductor of the composer, excellent at overall sweep of the music. The sound of this very early digital recordings is not the best but oddly the first, the only one with the Ulster Symphony, is superior in that regard to the rest of the set with the London Philharmonic.

There was a magazine, I think it was called Stevenson's (Maybe some can remember it), that was like Rotten Tomatoes.  It contained the ratings of CD's.

I remember that this recording was 5-star recording.

[vandermolen]

Arnold Bax was very good for Chandos. In the early introduction of CD, Chandos were unable to keep up with demand for a Bryden Thomson disk conducting tone poems. Due to this success unsurprisingly the label decided to record a full set of Bax symphonies of which the 4th Symphony was the first, issued in 1983.
Not an obvious choice as I do not find the 4th the most memorable of the set. Bax captures swirling oceans brilliantly but unlike the preceding three symphonies I did detect some note spinning.
Bryden Thomson is a fine conductor of the composer, excellent at overall sweep of the music. The sound of this very early digital recordings is not the best but oddly the first, the only one with the Ulster Symphony, is superior in that regard to the rest of the set with the London Philharmonic.

It's a fine recording - the best of Thomson's Chandos set.

[Irons]

I always assumed the reason No.4 was recorded first was simply because at that time it was the only one of the 7 not to have received a good quality recording - the Guildford PO version on Revolution Records was pretty ropey sonically and in terms of playing.  I still rate those Ulster/Chandos recordings as technically some of their finest with little or no allowance needing to be made for being "early digital".  The genuine sorrow is that Thomson recorded the bulk of the cycle in All Saints Tooting which did cause significant audio problems early on.

Showing my age I was around at the time and the introduction of CD which did seem like a new dawn. What did HVK say? "Everything else is gaslight". Didn't cross my mind that the Couzens family would think the same way as Richard Itter, head of Lyrita, when a few years earlier omitting the third and fourth symphonies from his schedule. Of course, the Lyrita 1,2,5,6,7 symphonies were not available at this time on CD so not in direct competition with Thomson, not to mention the fabulous Downes 3 which is not to this day! But as I cannot come up with an alternative reason for kicking off with the fourth (although no barrier for the rest of the Thomson cycle) I guess I acquiesce.
Even a vinyl head like me - still for the ultimate musical experience prefer the LP record - has to admit digital recording has made huge strides in sound quality over the last forty-odd years. However, agree 4 has the best sonics of the Thomson cycle.
Thanks for input - interesting discussion. 

[Roasted Swan]

Showing my age I was around at the time and the introduction of CD which did seem like a new dawn. What did HVK say? "Everything else is gaslight". Didn't cross my mind that the Couzens family would think the same way as Richard Itter, head of Lyrita, when a few years earlier omitting the third and fourth symphonies from his schedule. Of course, the Lyrita 1,2,5,6,7 symphonies were not available at this time on CD so not in direct competition with Thomson, not to mention the fabulous Downes 3 which is not to this day! But as I cannot come up with an alternative reason for kicking off with the fourth (although no barrier for the rest of the Thomson cycle) I guess I acquiesce.
Even a vinyl head like me - still for the ultimate musical experience prefer the LP record - has to admit digital recording has made huge strides in sound quality over the last forty-odd years. However, agree 4 has the best sonics of the Thomson cycle.
Thanks for input - interesting discussion. 

The Bax 4 was recorded in April 1983 and released the following December, so an early digital recording but pre-commercial/mass CD production/releases. The first CD players and discs were released in Europe in March 1983. This was when companies were releasing in all 3 formats cassette/LP/CD but my guess (I can't remember) is that that December 1983 release wouild have been on the analogue carriers not CD yet.[/i]

[Irons]

The Bax 4 was recorded in April 1983 and released the following December, so an early digital recording but pre-commercial/mass CD production/releases. The first CD players and discs were released in Europe in March 1983. This was when companies were releasing in all 3 formats cassette/LP/CD but my guess (I can't remember) is that that December 1983 release wouild have been on the analogue carriers not CD yet.[/i]

It was on CD, I made a purchase. But you are not incorrect, I well recall supply of the new technology unable to keep up with demand. Chandos did produce analogue LP records prior to the advent of CD but small beer. CD was the making of Chandos.



The first Thomson/Bax CD was issued in June 1982 (Discogs). I ordered it with huge excitement as not only new technology but had not heard a note of Bax. Yes, all the early Chandos releases were also available on LP too but I shunned digital LPs at that time (sold my entire vinyl collection but that is another story). I still have that original Bax tone poems CD in my collection and a couple of years ago I purchased it on LP too for completest sake. A recording I have a lot of affection for as reminds me of happy and exciting times.

[vandermolen]

Showing my age I was around at the time and the introduction of CD which did seem like a new dawn. What did HVK say? "Everything else is gaslight". Didn't cross my mind that the Couzens family would think the same way as Richard Itter, head of Lyrita, when a few years earlier omitting the third and fourth symphonies from his schedule. Of course, the Lyrita 1,2,5,6,7 symphonies were not available at this time on CD so not in direct competition with Thomson, not to mention the fabulous Downes 3 which is not to this day! But as I cannot come up with an alternative reason for kicking off with the fourth (although no barrier for the rest of the Thomson cycle) I guess I acquiesce.
Even a vinyl head like me - still for the ultimate musical experience prefer the LP record - has to admit digital recording has made huge strides in sound quality over the last forty-odd years. However, agree 4 has the best sonics of the Thomson cycle.
Thanks for input - interesting discussion. 

I read yesterday that Walkmans, Cassettes LPs and CDs are becoming more popular again.

I'm sorry that Lyrita never recorded the 3rd or 4th symphonies.

[Daverz]

There was a magazine, I think it was called Stevenson's (Maybe some can remember it), that was like Rotten Tomatoes.  It contained the ratings of CD's.

I remember that this recording was 5-star recording.

Yes, Stevenson's Guide.  It wasn't quite as regularly published as a periodical.   It summarized CD reviews from various classical review magazines down to a rating.  I remember carrying a marked up copy when I went CD shopping.

[Irons]

It was on CD, I made a purchase. But you are not incorrect, I well recall supply of the new technology unable to keep up with demand. Chandos did produce analogue LP records prior to the advent of CD but small beer. CD was the making of Chandos.



The first Thomson/Bax CD was issued in June 1982 (Discogs). I ordered it with huge excitement as not only new technology but had not heard a note of Bax. Yes, all the early Chandos releases were also available on LP too but I shunned digital LPs at that time (sold my entire vinyl collection but that is another story). I still have that original Bax tone poems CD in my collection and a couple of years ago I purchased it on LP too for completest sake. A recording I have a lot of affection for as reminds me of happy and exciting times.

Correction. My error, recorded June 1982 and issued on CD 1983.

[springrite]

Arnold Bax was very good for Chandos. In the early introduction of CD, Chandos were unable to keep up with demand for a Bryden Thomson disk conducting tone poems. Due to this success unsurprisingly the label decided to record a full set of Bax symphonies of which the 4th Symphony was the first, issued in 1983.
Not an obvious choice as I do not find the 4th the most memorable of the set. Bax captures swirling oceans brilliantly but unlike the preceding three symphonies I did detect some note spinning.
Bryden Thomson is a fine conductor of the composer, excellent at overall sweep of the music. The sound of this very early digital recordings is not the best but oddly the first, the only one with the Ulster Symphony, is superior in that regard to the rest of the set with the London Philharmonic.

I have just about every Bax recording CHANDOS put out. To my ear, Thomson is far better, more persuasive with the tone poems, with its episodic nature, than with the symphonies. I much prefer the more organic Handley recordings of the symphonies overall. I have both sets. The Thomson set is more exciting, but Handley is more logically and organically organized and stands up to repeated listenings.

Both are good.
Just my personal view.

[arpeggio]

I have been listening to Viola Sonata.  The opening of the first movement has some of the most adventurous harmonies I have heard in a Bax work.

[Florestan]

I read yesterday that Walkmans, Cassettes LPs and CDs are becoming more popular again.

In the early 90s I had a cassette walkman. 

I think I still have it somewhere.

[Irons]

A work that proves wrong the herd-like mentality of critics that Bax wasn't a symphonist. I have always found intriguing the choice of Raymond Leppard. A baroque specialist who conducts Bax to a manner born. Why little else? I checked out the Leppard discography, all 336 recordings! Literally only a single handful of 20c works, a miniscule output. There was to be another Bax recording I had no knowledge of, a live Winter Daydreams. 

Edit: Beside of course 7th Symphony. 

[Roasted Swan]

A work that proves wrong the herd-like mentality of critics that Bax wasn't a symphonist. I have always found intriguing the choice of Raymond Leppard. A baroque specialist who conducts Bax to a manner born. Why little else? I checked out the Leppard discography, all 336 recordings! Literally only a single handful of 20c works, a miniscule output. There was to be another Bax recording I had no knowledge of, a live Winter Daydreams. 

Edit: Beside of course 7th Symphony. 

Winter Legends.....  Mentioning snow and ice (kind of....!) I really like Leppard's RVW Antartica which has been discussed/dismissed on the forum before because it actually expands the spoken superscriptions by using more of Scott's diaries.  I like that idea but aside from that the actual performance of the music is very fine. 

Here's an interview with him about Bax and other things....

https://sirarnoldbaxsociety.com/blogs/interviews/posts/7462360/raymond-leppard-on-bax-with-richard-r-adams

[Irons]

Winter Legends.....  Mentioning snow and ice (kind of....!) I really like Leppard's RVW Antartica which has been discussed/dismissed on the forum before because it actually expands the spoken superscriptions by using more of Scott's diaries.  I like that idea but aside from that the actual performance of the music is very fine. 

Here's an interview with him about Bax and other things....

https://sirarnoldbaxsociety.com/blogs/interviews/posts/7462360/raymond-leppard-on-bax-with-richard-r-adams

What a cracking interview, no gilding of lily, no BS.

[relm1]

I recently listened to a chamber disc of Bax.  Very enjoyable but I usually think of him for his big orchestral opulent scores, but his chamber music is very good too.

[arpeggio]

I had recently discovered the String Quartets of Bax (I discussed this in the "Pieces that have blown you away recently" thread.)  Since I am such an aficionado of the music of Bax, I decided to review my library to see what I am still missing.  I discovered that I am missing the following (Shame on me  );

Northern Ballade #1 (I thought I had everything Bax composed for orchestra)
Piano Trio in Bb Major
Violin Sonatas
Several other works.
I purchased the following to fill in the gaps:






There are some duplications.  I already have a recording of the Clarinet Sonata.  Now I have two.

I am now getting to the harp stuff.

[vandermolen]

I recently listened to a chamber disc of Bax.  Very enjoyable but I usually think of him for his big orchestral opulent scores, but his chamber music is very good too.

Especially the epic Piano Quintet (one of my best GMG Forum discoveries) and the lovely Harp Quintet.