Is Bax the next big thing?

[12tone.]

There seems to be lots of Bruckner and Mahler threads here.  Great symphonies.  But in the line of things, do you think Bax is next?  I have the Handley box on Chandos and they seem really well played (and good sound) but Bax really changes ideas fast; faster than Mahler I think.  Last time I tried to get through a symphony his ideas, phrases were all over the place.  Seemed each new few bars had completely unrelated material. 

Is Bax a great composer that's going to be the next big thing in symphonic soundscapes in the line of Beethoven, Bruckner and Mahler, or is he off to the side for a reason? 

[Catison]

No.  I'll maybe be convinced if you show me how many Bax symphonies are on concert programs.  Bax is a great symphonist, but I don't think he going to catch on.  His music is too craggy and violent to become mainstream.

[Mark]

But Bax's chamber music is wonderful, IMO. Well worth exploring.

[12tone.]

But Bax's chamber music is wonderful, IMO. Well worth exploring.

On Naxos?

[Daverz]

No, I think Bax is too "difficult" to ever become a repetory staple.

[Kullervo]

I've been curious about Bax for some time. Anyone have a favorite symphony/recording?

[Steve]

I've been curious about Bax for some time. Anyone have a favorite symphony/recording?

I would try Symphonies 1 and 2 on Naxos.

[SonicMan46]

12Tone - I think you might subsitute a goodly number of composers for Bax when posing that question - there are so many 'excellent' composers that we discuss on this forum that deserve such consideration, but will likely not become 'GREATS' in the future.  I own about a dozen Bax CDs, the Complete Symphonies w/ Handley on Chandos & a lot of his chamber works - all of which I enjoy, but unfortunately he is virtually never programmed in my area - 

[Kullervo]

12Tone - I think you might subsitute a goodly number of composers for Bax when posing that question - there are so many 'excellent' composers that we discuss on this forum that deserve such consideration, but will likely not become 'GREATS' in the future.  I own about a dozen Bax CDs, the Complete Symphonies w/ Handley on Chandos & a lot of his chamber works - all of which I enjoy, but unfortunately he is virtually never programmed in my area - 

British composers in general seem to be undeservedly overlooked.

[SonicMan46]

British composers in general seem to be undeservedly overlooked.

Kullervo - agree completely - take a look at this THREAD that I started in the 'old' forum - plenty of great English composers discussed w/ plenty of recommendations - again, I rarely see any of these works programmed locally - 

[Scriptavolant]

There seems to be lots of Bruckner and Mahler threads here.  Great symphonies.  But in the line of things, do you think Bax is next?  I have the Handley box on Chandos and they seem really well played (and good sound) but Bax really changes ideas fast; faster than Mahler I think.  Last time I tried to get through a symphony his ideas, phrases were all over the place.  Seemed each new few bars had completely unrelated material. 

Is Bax a great composer that's going to be the next big thing in symphonic soundscapes in the line of Beethoven, Bruckner and Mahler, or is he off to the side for a reason? 

He is off to the side for a reason.

[Daverz]

I've been curious about Bax for some time. Anyone have a favorite symphony/recording?

Symphony No. 6 on Naxos.  Symphony No. 3 is probably the best known: it was recorded by Barbirolli back in the mono era.  My favorite of his tone poems is Tintagel.  The Lyrita CD with Boult conducting would give you a nice selection of his tone poems.

[Harry]

On Naxos?

Yes!

[Harry]

Chandos reduced in price many of the Bax recordings, so get on it my friend.

[jochanaan]

No.  I'll maybe be convinced if you show me how many Bax symphonies are on concert programs.  Bax is a great symphonist, but I don't think he going to catch on.  His music is too craggy and violent to become mainstream.

Craggier and more violent than Le sacre du printemps?  This I've got to hear!

No, I think Bax is too "difficult" to ever become a repetory staple.

I seem to recall they said similar things about Mahler...

All Bax needs is for a world-class conductor to champion him, as Bernstein did Mahler and Mackerras did Janácek.

[Mark]

Bax has Handley as his champion. Is he not 'world-class'?

[PerfectWagnerite]

Bax has Handley as his champion. Is he not 'world-class'?

Handley? No way, he is your typical journeyman kapellmeister in every sense of the word. David Lloyd-Jones, on the other hand is a world-class conductor.

[Steve]

12Tone - I think you might subsitute a goodly number of composers for Bax when posing that question - there are so many 'excellent' composers that we discuss on this forum that deserve such consideration, but will likely not become 'GREATS' in the future.  I own about a dozen Bax CDs, the Complete Symphonies w/ Handley on Chandos & a lot of his chamber works - all of which I enjoy, but unfortunately he is virtually never programmed in my area - 

I saw that set on Chandos, SonicMan. Would you mind describing the performance? 

Bax, the next 'thing' in music? Why not?

[schweitzeralan]

Yes!

Bax has been one of my "ultimates" for over 40 years.

[DavidW]

I've been rediscovering Bax since I bought the Handley box set.  Exceptional music.  I think I wasn't wowed enough with the previous recordings.  The Thomson recordings sounded too remote (bad acoustics?) and Lloyd-Jones take on it so fast it just makes a joke of the music.  But Handley brings great sound quality AND performances to the table. 

I haven't listened to the interview disc yet, but I can tell you that the music is superb, and I'm a Bax fan now.