Richard Arnell
(1917-)
Symphony #3, Op. 40
Overture "The New Age", Op. 2
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Martin Yates
Dutton Epoch CDLX7161 72:10
Arnell wrote his third symphony in America where he lived during World War II. It runs over an hour and is in six movements; the first and fifth each serve as a short prelude to the allegro movement that follows. Much of the second movement derives from a beautiful and very English hymn-like theme. Apart from a sense of unease in the andante, the mood of the symphony is otherwise essentially extrovert. There are traces of Walton, Alwyn, Rubbra, Arnold (at his most rambunctious), even Brian. The brass writing and the orchestration generally is especially impressive.
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