Chandos
Bax: Orchestral Works / Davis, BBC Philharmonic
$21.99
Only 2 left
Details
- Composer
- BAX, SIR ARNOLD
- Artist
- Dukes, Davis
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Chandos
- Released
- Sep 30, 2014
- Catalog #
- CHAN 10829
- UPC
- 095115182925
About
Sir Andrew Davis is among the most distinguished interpreters of British music today and here turns to the works of Sir Arnold Bax. With the inclusion of the Phantasy for Viola and Orchestra, this album marks the completion of Chandos’s long project to record Bax’s complete orchestral music over time.
Born in 1883 into a wealthy family in London, Arnold Bax began a love affair with Ireland as a young man. He moved there in 1911 and his Four Orchestral Pieces from 1912 – 13 are deeply influenced by the landscape of the countryside near his Dublin home. The first three are better known in revised versions, from 1928, as Three Pieces for Small Orchestra. Here ‘The Dance of Wild Irravel’ joins the other three movements for the premiere recording of the four Pieces as Bax originally conceived and orchestrated them.
The Phantasy for Viola and Orchestra from 1920 was inspired by the strong feelings with which Bax responded to the Irish political turmoil at the time, underlined by his use of the Sinn Fein Marching Song (later the Irish national anthem) at its climax. Bax is celebrated for his melodic invention and this passionately lyrical score must be one of the finest examples of his gift. Here the soloist is Philip Dukes, described by The Times as ‘Great Britain’s most outstanding viola player’.
By 1927 Bax’s style was changing and the opening of the Overture, Elegy and Rondo is reminiscent of a classical concerto, suggesting a leaning towards then-fashionable neoclassicism. The long, dreamy melody of the middle section and brilliant, colourful orchestration, however, are unmistakable hallmarks of Bax’s individual voice. - Chandos
Reviews
“… Dukes is a sterling advocate of this unjustly neglected work [Phantasy] – the haunting cor anglais solo recalls the shepherd’s lament in Wagner’s Tristan – while Davis proves passionate in the impressionistic Four Orchestral Pieces and the powerful, dark Overture, Elegy and Rondo.” - Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times, Culture magazine, London – [September 14, 2014]
“All three of these rarely heard works come from the first half of Bax’s career as a composer. The earliest is the lightweight but charming set of Four orchestral Pieces from 1914, recorded here for the first time … The latest is the far more substantial Overture, Elegy and Rondo … Through stylistically the two works have their differences … both works reveal the same sure-footed handling of the orchestra, which these carefully manicured performances under conductor Andrew Davis show off beautifully…” - Andrew Clements, The Guardian, [August 29, 2014]
Born in 1883 into a wealthy family in London, Arnold Bax began a love affair with Ireland as a young man. He moved there in 1911 and his Four Orchestral Pieces from 1912 – 13 are deeply influenced by the landscape of the countryside near his Dublin home. The first three are better known in revised versions, from 1928, as Three Pieces for Small Orchestra. Here ‘The Dance of Wild Irravel’ joins the other three movements for the premiere recording of the four Pieces as Bax originally conceived and orchestrated them.
The Phantasy for Viola and Orchestra from 1920 was inspired by the strong feelings with which Bax responded to the Irish political turmoil at the time, underlined by his use of the Sinn Fein Marching Song (later the Irish national anthem) at its climax. Bax is celebrated for his melodic invention and this passionately lyrical score must be one of the finest examples of his gift. Here the soloist is Philip Dukes, described by The Times as ‘Great Britain’s most outstanding viola player’.
By 1927 Bax’s style was changing and the opening of the Overture, Elegy and Rondo is reminiscent of a classical concerto, suggesting a leaning towards then-fashionable neoclassicism. The long, dreamy melody of the middle section and brilliant, colourful orchestration, however, are unmistakable hallmarks of Bax’s individual voice. - Chandos
Reviews
“… Dukes is a sterling advocate of this unjustly neglected work [Phantasy] – the haunting cor anglais solo recalls the shepherd’s lament in Wagner’s Tristan – while Davis proves passionate in the impressionistic Four Orchestral Pieces and the powerful, dark Overture, Elegy and Rondo.” - Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times, Culture magazine, London – [September 14, 2014]
“All three of these rarely heard works come from the first half of Bax’s career as a composer. The earliest is the lightweight but charming set of Four orchestral Pieces from 1914, recorded here for the first time … The latest is the far more substantial Overture, Elegy and Rondo … Through stylistically the two works have their differences … both works reveal the same sure-footed handling of the orchestra, which these carefully manicured performances under conductor Andrew Davis show off beautifully…” - Andrew Clements, The Guardian, [August 29, 2014]
Tracklist 10 tracks
-
1 I. Pensive Twilight 06:46
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Pensive Twilight
- Duration
- 06:46
- Composer
- Arnold Bax
- Ensemble
- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
2 II. Dance in the Sun 06:43
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Dance in the Sun
- Duration
- 06:43
- Composer
- Arnold Bax
- Ensemble
- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
3 III. From the Mountains of Home (In the Hills of Home) 08:11
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. From the Mountains of Home (In the Hills of Home)
- Duration
- 08:11
- Composer
- Arnold Bax
- Ensemble
- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
4 IV. The Dance of Wild Irravel 05:01
- Track
- 4
- Title
- IV. The Dance of Wild Irravel
- Duration
- 05:01
- Composer
- Arnold Bax
- Ensemble
- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
5 I. Poco lento. Largamente 08:38
- Track
- 5
- Title
- I. Poco lento. Largamente
- Duration
- 08:38
- Composer
- Arnold Bax
- Performer
- Philip Dukes
- Ensemble
- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
6 II. Lento semplice 06:21
- Track
- 6
- Title
- II. Lento semplice
- Duration
- 06:21
- Composer
- Arnold Bax
- Performer
- Philip Dukes
- Ensemble
- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
7 III. Allegro vivace 06:52
- Track
- 7
- Title
- III. Allegro vivace
- Duration
- 06:52
- Composer
- Arnold Bax
- Performer
- Philip Dukes
- Ensemble
- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
8 I. Overture 07:45
- Track
- 8
- Title
- I. Overture
- Duration
- 07:45
- Composer
- Arnold Bax
- Ensemble
- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
9 II. Elegy 09:19
- Track
- 9
- Title
- II. Elegy
- Duration
- 09:19
- Composer
- Arnold Bax
- Ensemble
- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
10 III. Rondo 06:58
- Track
- 10
- Title
- III. Rondo
- Duration
- 06:58
- Composer
- Arnold Bax
- Ensemble
- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis