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Programme 1
Image AFW
The Nursery Suite is one of the last compositions by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934).
Like Elgar's Wand of Youth Suites it makes use of sketches from the composers
childhood.
The composition of The Nursery Suite came about when Elgar mentioned in
September 1930 to HMV (the Gramophone Company) that he had lately run across
a box of musical sketches from the days of his youth. HMV suggested that as Master
of the King's Musick he might suitably draw on them for a work to mark the recent
birth of Princess Margaret Rose (then fourth in line to the throne). The suite was
dedicated to Princess Margaret, her older sister Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen
Elizabeth II) and their mother.
Most of the movements appear light, in the style of The Wand of Youth suites, and
predominantly sunny in character. Some commentators have made an exception of
'The Wagon (Passes)': the Elgar authority Michael Kennedy suggests that as the
wagon rumbles towards us the music takes on a sinister quality like that of the
moment in the Scherzo of the Second Symphony, when the wheels go over my
head. Anthony Payne drew on the form of this movement for the ending of his
elaboration of the Third Symphony sketches.
The Nursery Suite was one of the first pieces of orchestral music to receive its
premire in a recording studio (Kingsway Hall, London) rather than a concert hall. At
its premire on 23 May 1931, all but the two last movements were recorded under
the baton of the composer. The last two movements were added when the whole
suite was performed on 4 June 1931 before an invited audience including Princess
Elizabeth, aged 4, and her parents. The piece takes about 25 minutes to perform.
The choreographer Frederick Ashton used The Nursery Suite for a new ballet (his
last) in 1986 for the Queens sixtieth birthday gala.
The Symphony No. 4, Op. 71 by Malcolm Arnold was finished on 13 July in 1960. It is
in four movements:
1. Allegro
2. Vivace ma non troppo
3. Andantino
4. Con fuoco
The work was commissioned by William Glock for the BBC. The composer conducted
the first performance with the BBC Symphony Orchestra on 2 November 1960 at the
Royal Festival Hall.
The composer wrote in 1971 that the symphony was a reaction to the Notting Hill
race riots of 1958. He was appalled that such a thing could happen in Britain. And
expressed his hope that it might help to spread the idea of racial integration.
Symphony No. 4 was commissioned by the BBC, completed in 1960, following the
Notting Hill race-riots which perhaps influenced scoring for the symphony. It
includes Caribbean instruments (and rhythms as well): marimba, bongos and tomtoms, all used in a rather menacing way. The first of the four movements has violent
outbursts of brass and percussion with extensive interplay between instrumental
clusters. The movement includes a rather sad "pop" tune that appears several
times, each time with different orchestration. A "pop" tune usually consists of 32
bars, but this one has only 31, an effect that puzzled many listeners. This movement
ends with a huge brass outburst which to me is reminiscent of West Side Story. A
short, gossamer scherzo follows, all pianissimo except for the fortissimo last chord,
leading to one Arnolds most imaginative achievements, a 13 minute Andante.
Christopher Palmers notes in the Hickox Chandos recording describe the
movement perfectly: "...slow, sensual sexy, steamy, sultry -- and the atmosphere is
trance-like, almost hypnotic. Where are we? In a Turkish Bath, opium den (if they
still exist) or night-club, very late at night?" Its an incredible listening experience
which sets an exotic mood totally devastated by the fourth and final movement.
This begins with a fugue, continues with marches, dissonance, more Caribbean
percussion, bells and ending in a cataclysmic blaze of percussion. A remarkable
symphony!
SIR MALCOLM ARNOLD AND HIS NINE SYMPHONIES
Surely the most underrated contemporary composer is Sir Malcolm Arnold (b. Oct.
21, 1921), at least in regard to his major symphonic works. His versatility is
extraordinary. He has written music for solo instruments, chamber ensembles,
numerous concertos for a multitude of friends (guitarist Julian Bream, trumpeter
John Wilbraham, violinist Yehudi Menuhin, cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber, recorder
virtuoso Michaela Petri, harmonica virtuoso Larry Adler, oboist Leon Goossens, et
al). Arnold also wrote music for more than 80 films, including The Bridge on the
River Kwai, Whistle Down the Wind, Hobson's Choice, and Inn of the Sixth
Happiness (he was approached to write the score for Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A
Space Odyssey, an offer he declined). However, to me his greatest achievement is a
series of nine extraordinary symphonies.
Sir Malcolm Arnold was born in Northampton. His father was a well-to-do shoe
manufacturer, amateur pianist and organist, his mother a fine pianist. They
encouraged his musical interests which were wide-ranging. He absorbed the classics
as well as jazz, and studied the trumpet, which he quickly mastered. In the 1950s
he began composing music for films and for the first time had the opportunity to
conduct. In 1969 he was made a Bard of the Cornish Gorseth, and was awarded the
C.B.E. in 1970. He also has Honorary Doctorates of Music from Exeter University
(1969), Durham University (1982) and Leicester University (1984). Arnold was made
a Fellow of the Royal College of Music in 1983 and is an Honorary R.A.M. In 1986 he
received the Ivor Novello Award for "outstanding service to British music," and
received a knighthood in the New Year Honours List 1993 for his services to music.
All programme notes taken from Wikipedia
Violin II
Ian Smith
Emma Callery
John Thomson
Andrew Waite
Rachel Sansome
Rachel Saunders
Sue Christie
Christine Morley
Bryony Yelloly
Viola
David Bolton-King
Jonathan Rowe
Anna Fleming
John Maksinski
Cello
Miranda Ricardo
Sarah Turnock
Peter Button
Janet Parsons
John Pimm
Ruth Mankelow
Paul Morley
Jennifer Hubble
Double Bass
Robert Gilchrist
Jo Hammond
Jane Martin
Flute
Rachel McCubbin
Nick Planas
Amy Lockwood
Piccolo
Nick Planas
Oboe
Estevan Ellul
Lyn Gosney
Clarinet
Helen Payne
Alice Palmer
Bassoon
Ian McCubbin
Rachel James
Contra bassoon
Ian White
Horn
David Settle
Richard Hartree
Edward Bolton-King
Helen Barnby-Porritt
Trumpet
Tony Chittock
Ron Barnett
Terry Mayo
Martin Mills
Trombone
Paul Macey
Gary Clifton
Malcolm Saunders
Tuba
John Beer
Percussion
Justin Rhodes
Sue Woolhouse
Dave Martin
Dave Hadland
Huw Morgan
Harp
Nia Williams
Celeste
Kathryn Hayman
Website
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www.banburysymphony.org
Mrs H. M. W. Rivett
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