Arnold, Bax, Bliss & Bridge

[josh]

Hi all,

Recently, I've heard the following from the above artists and enjoyed them:

Arnold - Symphonies 7 & 8 - NSOI/Naxos

Bax - Piano Quintet - Wass/Tippett-Naxos

Bliss - Piano Concerto / Sonata / Concerto for 2 Pianos - RSNO/Naxos

Bridge - Piano Quintet - Wass/Tippett-Naxos

I know there are some lovers of these composers on the forum, Camverton, Boxer, et al.

As these guys were quite prolific and I don't feel like trawling their whole back-catalogues, could you point me in the direction for next works to try for each? Links to exact CDs would be great if possible to make sure I get the right version.

Thanks a lot,

Josh

 

[JANDL100]

Well, you've done the As and the Bs of obscure Brit composers, so how about ...

Corp http://www.amazon.co.uk/Piano-Concerto-Ronald-Corp/dp/B003382K7W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435738297&sr=1-1&keywords=corp+piano - I think it's a wonderful CD.

Dodgson http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stephen-Dodgson-Quartets-Quintet-Clarinet/dp/B004ROCVO8/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435738492&sr=1-7&keywords=dodgson+string

And do you know the Elgar 3rd symphony, incomplete sketches by Elgar when he died but completed by Anthony Payne. It really is good!

I'd recommend this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgar-Payne-Sketches-Symphony-No/dp/B00002687K/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435738686&sr=1-2&keywords=elgar+payne

Feeney's Dracula score http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feeney-Dracula-Philip/dp/B0000014FU/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435738772&sr=1-2&keywords=feeney

 

[josh]

Hah thanks Jerry, I'll check those out.

You forgot Simpson and Tippett, if you're going to move further up the alphabet

 

[JANDL100]

But to answer your question ....

Arnold symphonies 1 & 2 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arnold-Symphonies-Malcolm/dp/B000001489/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435738897&sr=1-1&keywords=arnold+1+2

Arnold string quartets http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arnold-String-Quartets-Maggini-Qt/dp/B000MRP1TG/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435738969&sr=1-2&keywords=malcolm+arnold+quartets

Bax symphonies and tone poems http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bax-Symphony-No-7-Tintagel/dp/B0000CDJKE/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435739010&sr=1-1&keywords=bax+tintagel

Bridge, Bliss.

Hmm.

Bliss you may already have found the best of, I find most of his music that I have heard uninteresting.

Bridge - excellent string quartets http://www.amazon.co.uk/Frank-Bridge-Quartets-Phantasy-Quartet/dp/B0007ORDV8/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435739244&sr=1-3&keywords=bridge+quartets

His orchestral works I find much weaker than his chamber music, but you could try http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bridge-Sea-Enter-Spring-Summer/dp/B0002BXO3W/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435739329&sr=1-4&keywords=bridge+frank

and his Oration 'cello concerto' gets high praise but I cannot make head nor tail of it. :?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Symphony-Cello-Orchestra-Britten/dp/B00000DO8N/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435739403&sr=1-3&keywords=oration

And you also get the equally impenetrable (to me) Britten cello symphony on that.

 

[JANDL100]

Oh, and the superb Bax piano sonatas http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bax-Piano-Sonatas-Dream-Nereid/dp/B0002TNGYQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435741233&sr=1-1&keywords=bax+piano

 

[josh]

Many thanks Jerry - got them all lined up in Spotify...

 

[Von Krolock]

A less obscure British 'B' composer, must mention here this Britten recording - outstanding with superlative sound quality.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britten-Variations-Bridge-Symphony-Prelude/dp/B0007QN8PG/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1435742191&sr=8-12&keywords=britten+variations+on+a+theme

 

[JANDL100]

Another Brit B is Bantock. You come across him, Josh? Lush and large and Romantic.

Try http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bantock-Hebridean-Celtic-Symphonies-Granville/dp/B000002ZOF/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1435744001&sr=1-1&keywords=bantock

 

[musicbox]

Bax symphonies are beautifully orchestrated wind & bluster. I cannot find anything in them to hold onto, never mind anything symphonic about them.

I'm a fan of the Bridge "Oration", there is a very good recent recording by Steven Isserlis http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/BIS/BIS1992

Also his Piano Sonata - a bit of a mix between Ravel and Liszt in a good way - http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/July06/Bridge_Bebbington_Sommcd056.htm

 

[josh]

Thanks all. I've posted my thoughts so far here: http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?282-Classical-bLog-Cabin&p=2123621&viewfull=1#post2123621