What Classical Music Are You listening to Now? IV

[silvestrione]

If we're talking orchestral music, then I would suggest:

Garden of Fand (Barbirolli on Dutton, or Handley on Chandos).
November Woods (Handley on Chandos, or Boult on Lyrita)
Spring Fire (Elder on the Hallé's label, Handley on Chandos)
In Memoriam (Handley on Chandos, rather than Elder)

and if you like those....
Symphony No.6 (Del Mar, Lyrita)
Symphony No.3 (Barbirolli, EMI or Dutton)

That's probably enough to be going on with!

The two great tone poems and the early symphony Spring Fire will give you an idea of whether Bax is for you. In Memoriam has become a hit, much-played both sides of the Irish Sea since its rediscovery in 1993: the main theme was reused in Oliver Twist. (But be aware that he also wrote a chamber piece with the same title, with no musical overlap).

Part of the problem is, that Bax wrote so much that his orchestral music in particular is very variable in quality, but whatever our favourites, these six are superb works, as all Baxians would agree.

For chamber music, the Elegiac Trio (mentioned by Roger Webb) is a good place to start. As is the Piano Quintet (David Owen Norris and Mistry Quartet on Chandos; or Ashley Wass and the Tippett Quartet on Naxos).

Very helpful, thank you.

[Roger Webb]

Let's not forget the Violin Concerto with Boult and Eda Kersey on that Dutton disc if it still around. A marvellous performance from the soloist who was tragically to die later that year of stomach cancer .

I remember a live performance of the Bax Violin Concerto that I went to at the Proms...I have a 'private recording' of it made by a friend who ran off a cassette copy for me which tells me that Manoug Parikian soloed with Bryden Thompson cond. BBC Welsh SO.

The thing I remember vividly standing in the promenade - probably first two rows - was a tremendous shout/scream from upstairs somewhere...it sounded as if someone was falling off the balcony. This came out a treat on the tape - playing Lydia Mordkovitch's version now I always 'hear' the shout in exactly the place where it occured!

[Serial_Apologist]

I remember a live performance of the Bax Violin Concerto that I went to at the Proms...I have a 'private recording' of it made by a friend who ran off a cassette copy for me which tells me that Manoug Parikian soloed with Bryden Thompson cond. BBC Welsh SO.

The thing I remember vividly standing in the promenade - probably first two rows - was a tremendous shout/scream from upstairs somewhere...it sounded as if someone was falling off the balcony. This came out a treat on the tape - playing Lydia Mordkovitch's version now I always 'hear' the shout in exactly the place where it occured!

We could almost start a thread devoted to unusual things that have happened while we were attending concerts. Mine occurred at a Prom in either 1965 or '66, during a performance of The Planets. I was crouched behind the parapet, up in "the gods". In the closing seconds of Venus the house organ was deployed in its famously lowest register, causing reverberations which seemed to emanate from Earth's deepest depths, permeating every cell in the body. As this happened there was a kerfuffle directly behind me: a young woman was having an epileptic fit; she was quickly stretchered off by attendants.

[Master Jacques]

I'm the same with many of those versions of other works that I got to know first....there's a certain magic in the memories such pieces of vinyl have locked in them...to be opened only by those who hold the key!

And thanks for the various bits of info. and reviews along the way....perhaps between us we've enthused a couple of listeners new to Bax"s genius!

I still play the Thomson/LPO version of 3rd as it's the one I took to Morar ( we actually stayed in Arisaig just up the coast).

I've only actually heard the 6th Symphony live, and that was Norman del Mar who did it in Bristol...must have been early 90s. His 6th on Lyrita is still my go-to!

Always hoping to open doors on this wonderful composer!

Talking of Bristol, anyone living in the vicinity can go and hear George Owen conducting Bax's 7th Symphony this Sunday with the University Sinfonia, in the Victoria Rooms, Clifton, at 19:00. I can't be there, sadly, but many eminent Baxians (including Lewis Foreman) will certainly be attending. The 7th - premiered at Carnegie Hall by the New York Philharmonic under Boult in 1939 - is one of Bax's least-often performed these days.

https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/groups/symphonia-c7fc/events/symphonia-symphony-concert-looking-westwards

[Master Jacques]

I remember a live performance of the Bax Violin Concerto that I went to at the Proms...I have a 'private recording' of it made by a friend who ran off a cassette copy for me which tells me that Manoug Parikian soloed with Bryden Thompson cond. BBC Welsh SO.

The thing I remember vividly standing in the promenade - probably first two rows - was a tremendous shout/scream from upstairs somewhere...it sounded as if someone was falling off the balcony. This came out a treat on the tape - playing Lydia Mordkovitch's version now I always 'hear' the shout in exactly the place where it occured!

That too was a member of the audience having an epileptic fit: it remains the most frightening thing I've ever heard in a concert hall.

[Roger Webb]

Always hoping to open doors on this wonderful composer!

Talking of Bristol, anyone living in the vicinity can go and hear George Owen conducting Bax's 7th Symphony this Sunday with the University Sinfonia, in the Victoria Rooms, Clifton, at 19:00. I can't be there, sadly, but many eminent Baxians (including Lewis Foreman) will certainly be attending. The 7th - premiered at Carnegie Hall by the New York Philharmonic under Boult in 1939 - is one of Bax's least-often performed these days.

https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/groups/symphonia-c7fc/events/symphonia-symphony-concert-looking-westwards

Thanks for that, I'm tempted! I live over the other side of the Severn Bridge....can I persuade my wife?!

I think the University Sinfonia may be influenced by the fact that John Pickard is a keen Baxian.

My bachelor flat was just behind the Victoria Rooms near the BBC.....now that would have been handy!

[HighlandDougie]

I've always liked Tintagel but all this Bax enthusiasm - and the fact that, like Vinteuil, I've rather avoided swathes of WBD "British Music" in the past as well as the sense that Bax might be rather more interesting - has led me to invest in the Handley Chandos symphonies for the princely sum of £13.51 (including P&P). I hope that I wasn't robbed.

[Master Jacques]

Thanks for that, I'm tempted! I live over the other side of the Severn Bridge....can I persuade my wife?!

I think the University Sinfonia may be influenced by the fact that John Pickard is a keen Baxian.

My bachelor flat was just behind the Victoria Rooms near the BBC.....now that would have been handy!

John Pickard started the ball rolling. He tries to perform at least one Bax symphony with the University Orchestra every year; while thanks to his facilitation the University Library took on Graham Parlett's magnificent (unique) collection of Bax full scores, including Graham's own orchestrations and editorial editions, on JP's one stipulated condition - that the scores could be used practically, rather than simply sit in the library. Of course, to use an often misused phrase, "this is exactly what he would have wanted".

George Owen, a young composer-conductor who trained under Pickard, is being even more proactive. So I hope you are able to give Sunday's concert your support!

[Master Jacques]

I've always liked Tintagel but all this Bax enthusiasm - and the fact that, like Vinteuil, I've rather avoided swathes of WBD "British Music" in the past as well as the sense that Bax might be rather more interesting - has led me to invest in the Handley Chandos symphonies for the princely sum of £13.51 (including P&P). I hope that I wasn't robbed.

I'm sure you won't regret it. For quite a few people, who might not have other obvious tastes in common, Bax turns out to be one of those special favourites - something to do with the psychology behind the music, I expect - who becomes a necessary part of their life. Evaluating him as a symphonist, in the cold light of reason, I would myself place him in the Prokofiev/Martinu/Roussel bracket: musicians of lasting worth, whose symphonic work none the less doesn't appeal to everyone.

The days where just about everyone around the world was competing to put on a Bax symphonic premiere came in the early 1920s and went in the late 1930s, but the music is simply too good to fade into oblivion. And at last - thank goodness - he is enjoying a renaissance with a younger generation which doesn't share the prejudices of the old, post-war establishment.

[Roger Webb]

John Pickard started the ball rolling. He tries to perform at least one Bax symphony with the University Orchestra every year; while thanks to his facilitation the University Library took on Graham Parlett's magnificent (unique) collection of Bax full scores, including Graham's own orchestrations and editorial editions, on JP's one stipulated condition - that the scores could be used practically, rather than simply sit in the library. Of course, to use an often misused phrase, "this is exactly what he would have wanted".

George Owen, a young composer-conductor who trained under Pickard, is being even more proactive. So I hope you are able to give Sunday's concert your support!

I knew John quite well when I ran my CD shop in Bristol, one of his other students became my No. 2, and then went on to edit some of the Elgar Edition.

Bad news! My wife tells me we have 'people' on Sunday, so the concert is off I'm afraid 😞

[Roger Webb]

That too was a member of the audience having an epileptic fit: it remains the most frightening thing I've ever heard in a concert hall.

Yes it was such an 'other worldly' noise, every one in the promenade looked up and around to try and see where it had come from.
I just asked my wife when it was, she reckons latish 80s...I didn't date the tape, which I've just found, and has other live concert perfs on it with Del Mar/BBC SO Ov. to a Picaresque Comedy and Spring Fire, but I don't know when they were given...I recorded many off-air concerts at the time....mainly pieces that had no recordings at the time.

[oliver sudden]

We could almost start a thread devoted to unusual things that have happened while we were attending concerts. Mine occurred at a Prom in either 1965 or '66, during a performance of The Planets. I was crouched behind the parapet, up in "the gods". In the closing seconds of Venus the house organ was deployed in its famously lowest register, causing reverberations which seemed to emanate from Earth's deepest depths, permeating every cell in the body. As this happened there was a kerfuffle directly behind me: a young woman was having an epileptic fit; she was quickly stretchered off by attendants.

(I hope it was Saturn rather than Venus, or I think anyone, certainly including the conductor, might be excused for having a bit of a crisis of some sort...)

My most strikingly Unusual Thing was in a performance of the Emperor concerto in Melbourne in the late 1990s. The slow movement started up in its lovely B major way, the string opening faded out to make room for the soloist... and as soon as she started playing the temperature dropped to about 20 below zero, glistening icicles appeared from nowhere and a layer of frost instantly blanketed everything.

Well not really but I swear that's how it felt. The musicians continued bravely for a bit but it was clear there was no way out, so they stopped, and then restarted the movement.

I presume what happened was that she came in with the slightly later D major entry instead of the scheduled B major beginning. It remains one of the most intense experiences I have ever had in a concert hall. (Certainly while music was playing ) I have often wondered if there would be any other way to get that sort of effect from a performance. But surely not.

[Petrushka]

(I hope it was Saturn rather than Venus, or I think anyone, certainly including the conductor, might be excused for having a bit of a crisis of some sort...)

My most strikingly Unusual Thing was in a performance of the Emperor concerto in Melbourne in the late 1990s. The slow movement started up in its lovely B major way, the string opening faded out to make room for the soloist... and as soon as she started playing the temperature dropped to about 20 below zero, glistening icicles appeared from nowhere and a layer of frost instantly blanketed everything.

Well not really but I swear that's how it felt. The musicians continued bravely for a bit but it was clear there was no way out, so they stopped, and then restarted the movement.

I presume what happened was that she came in with the slightly later D major entry instead of the scheduled B major beginning. It remains one of the most intense experiences I have ever had in a concert hall. (Certainly while music was playing ) I have often wondered if there would be any other way to get that sort of effect from a performance. But surely not.

Another unusual concert happening. It was at the Proms in 2013 and some may remember it. The LPO and Vladimir Jurowski were playing Also Sprach Zarathustra and during the quiet passage after the famous opening, the organ suddenly let out an almighty roar as if the organist had fallen asleep at the keyboard. In fact, I believe that her feet had hit the pedals. Apparently, she was mortified at what happened and it completely demolished the performance.

[Barbirollians]

That original CD of Bax’s Symphonic Variations does have grim muffled sound . I thought it was a faulty CD when I bought a secondhand copy and sent it back . Didn’t realise it was the fault of Chandos.

[richardfinegold]

I attended 3 concerts in a row where I wound having to provide some medical assistance during the music. One was a seizure, one presumably cardiac rest, and the third was a relatively young man with acute abdominal pain. This was roughly 30 years ago, and it hasn’t happened since