Bax Symphonin F (1907), Matthews, Bush November 2013 Dutton recordings

[relm1]

I purchased the new November 2013 Dutton CD’s and am enjoying them immensely!  I highly recommend this set of quality releases.

The massive Arnold Bax Symphony in F (1907), at nearly 80 minutes, is terrific though don’t expect the mature Bax sound nor Victorian England. I guess even in his youth, Bax favored the epic rather than the traditional.  Think of this as somewhat Tchaikovskyesque in the way that early Granville Bantock (such as in his "Thalaba, the Destroyer" tone poem mode) was enamored with Tchaikovsky or even early Rachmaninoff (youth symphony or Symphony No. 1).  I do find the structure quite skillfully developed and the realization/orchestration by Martin Yates extraordinarily convincing.  The main theme is not the most interesting when compared to this composer's later masterpieces such as "Tintagel" but still vividly memorable.  The slow movement is more convincingly Bax.  To me, there is no doubt that this work deserves to be heard in the context of the composer's further output, just like other composer rejects such as Sibelius's "Kullervo Symphony". 

The David Matthews disc is also excellent.  The two substantial works on this disk ("Vespers" cantata and Symphony No. 7) are expertly performed and excellent works.  Symphony No. 7 is more overly in the mold of Vaughan Williams/Sibelius whereas Vespers reminds me somewhat of Paul Patterson's wonderful "Mass of the Sea" from 1981.  It seems British composers are natural vocal composers - so much heritage on which to draw from.  I would say if you enjoy other "conservative" modern British composers (John McCabe, Arthur Butterworth), you will certainly enjoy this generous and engaging disc.

Alan Bush Africa Concerto and Symphony No. 2 is another generous and diverse disc full of tuneful and virtuosic music.  The Piano Concerto is full of great technical facility as well as memorable ideas.  The Symphony and overture are well conceived and engaging.

I'm so pleased with this set of recordings and wouldn't hesitate recommending them.  Sadly, I did not purchase the Foulds disk...I ran out of money for this month.

Recording quality of all these recordings are ideal.  The one issue I have is that since I purchased these on iTunes, I have no booklet program notes and the Dutton website doesn't offer an option for someone who purchased the recordings as a digital download.  Does anyone have a suggestion for how to get the booklets?  Especially important for the Bax since we know little about the work without the booklet.

[The new erato]

Thank you for your reveiw, it's very valuable. I'm particularly interested in the Alan Bush, what I've heard from him always has been interesting. As for money....there's always credit.

[springrite]

These do sound enticing


Isn't the Bax orchestrated or finished by someone else?

[Sergeant Rock]

These do sound enticing


Isn't the Bax orchestrated or finished by someone else?

The conductor, Martin Yates, orchestrated it.

Sarge

[relm1]

The conductor, Martin Yates, orchestrated it.

Sarge

According to the Dutton website, the composition was completed with orchestration notes but then abandoned.  Martin Yates said he did not add to the music, only followed the orchestration guidelines in the piano score. 

[vandermolen]

I have the Bax and Bush and will probably get the Matthews as I thought that his Symphony No 6 was a very fine work. The Bush Symphony No 2 was a discovery I made through this site (Harry); it is an immediately appealing work and I too enjoyed the 'Africa' Piano Concerto. The performance of the Symphony has more urgency than the, very good, old ClassicO CD, although the pealing bells at the end of the work (a great moment) are much less audible on the Dutton recording ( they are clearly delineated on the Douglas Bostock, ClassicO version), which was a disappointment. Haven't got into the Bax yet. Thanks for the review.