Composer: Arnold Bax (1883-1953)
Work: London Pageant (1937), Concertante for cor anglais, clarinet, horn and orchestra (1948-9), Suite from Tamara (1911), Cathaleen-ní-Hoolihan (1903)
Performers: Gillian Callow (cor anglais), John Bradbury (clarinet), Jonathan Goodall (French horn); BBC Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Martyn Brabbins
Record Label: Chandos, CHAN 9879
Recording: Studio 7, BBC, Manchester; 17 May – 23 June 2000, DDD
Duration: 74.33
Arnold Bax’s collection, released under the Chandos label and sprinkled with the seasoned performances of Gillian Callow, John Bradbury, and Jonathan Goodall under the baton of Martyn Brabbins, presents the listener with a rich, wide-ranging palette of soundscapes ranging from the impressionistic and paradoxical to the fiercely explicit.
Starting off the selection is the highly evocative ‘London Pageant’ (1937) where Bax deploys a vivid musical canvas to convey the bustling energy and historic majesty of England’s capital. Contrary to popular belief, the piece is anything but a cavalier fanfare; it is a profound celebration of an ancient city’s dichotomy, constructed around an intricate blend of propulsive rhythms, melodious brass, and serene string divisions that grow progressively louder and march with triumphant inevitability.
The Concertante for cor anglais, clarinet, horn and orchestra (1948-9) continues the listener’s journey with a noticeably more shadowed temperament. Callow, Bradbury and Goodall all bring out the individual characters of their instruments to the fullest, intertwining their melodies in a vibrant dialogue that oscillates between sensual charm and melancholic introspection.
The recording also includes the ‘Suite from Tamara’ (1911), an oppressive and heavy score that offers stark paradoxes. It features hauntingly beautiful melodies juxtaposed against raw and chaotic proto-modernist gestures, leaving the listener unnerved and yet entranced by the sheer audacity of Bax’s musical universe.
Closing out the selection is “Cathaleen-ní-Hoolihan,” a piece that resonates with the charm and folklore of Bax’s beloved Ireland. It’s a more traditional and tuneful work, rife with racing flutes and dancing rhythms that take us deep into the heart of an Irish tale.
Martyn Brabbins’s conducting steers the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra to deliver a performance of commitment and versatility, successfully traversing Bax’s vast thematic landscapes with a sense of unity and balance. The recording quality is pristine, enabling the listener to delve deeper into the intricate layers and broad spectrum of Bax’s unique compositional style.
This CD caters to those who seek adventurous orchestration and emotional depth rather than simple melodic charm. In conclusion, this recording provides a robust and structured exegesis of Bax’s striking capacity to blend earthy passion with ethereal grandiosity.
