Arnold Bax: rev. June 24, 2020.
Symphony #3, Chandos Digital, London PO, Bryden Thomson. ABRD 1165. Superb sound, music is too modern. No like
Symphony #4 - Tintagel. Chandos Digital, Ulster Orchestra, Bryden Thomson. ABRD 1191. Superb music for dungeons and dragons. Very nice recording quality, but sounds like a CD.... artificially low noise floor, lack of subtle information.
Clarinet sonata (and Bliss clarinet quintet, Vaughan 6 Studies in English Folk Song). Janet Hilton, clarinet. Chandos digital DMM. ABRD 1078. Has better presence than the previous two, but still lacks subtle information. Sounds like a SACD. The sonata did not grab me as special.
Elgar 2019(approx.)
Enigma Variations: not bad, easy to listen, and is quite refreshing. Toscanini's interpretation is superb. LM-1725, with the NBC.
Vaugh Williams, 9 Symphonies, EMI. 2019 Spring-Summer
Copy #1: Good sound but not stellar. Sea Symphony has an unbearable opening. London Symphony is very nice, quiet opening going into huge (but not overly busy) dynamic peaks. Good balance.
Copy #2: deeper tone, nice full sound. Demo quality!
Herbert Howels
Lyrita, SRCS68. Fantasy String quartet op 25, Rhapsodic Quintet for clarinet, etc. Piano quartet op 21. Richards ensemble. 1975. Well, the recording is superb, very good sound. Very clean, on the lean side. The music did not grab me. Listened to the String quartet and the quintet. The high notes dominate, making it a draining experience for me - I really wanted to take the record off, was almost painful to carry on after a certain point. There's no balance, and I did not find a storyline to follow either. Felt like a haphazard wave of sounds, and I found no purpose in it. Perhaps this is the kind of excitement you need. For me, it's balance, inspiration, beauty and healing that makes a music piece desirable. Here, I found occasionally beauty and inspiration, but they were disjointed little snippets in a sea of confusion. Going out.....
Malcolm Williamson
OK, he's Australian.... nevertheless fits in the modern British feel of composing, but leans much more to the American side. Based on 5 min of listening to this piece:
EMI Odeon SLS5085 161-06431Q/432 quadrophonic. 2LP set. Elevamini Symphony No1. The introduction would go for a typical Hichkock movie roll. Did not grab me as material to listen to as music alone - you need the black and white movie to go with it, the murder slowly unfolding.... without the pictures it feels empty time for me. This is accompaniment, not the main attraction. Recording quality is superb.