Customer Reviews

Alwyn: Symphony No. 2; Overture to a Masque; The Magic Island; Overture, Derby Day; Fanfare for a Joyful Occasion

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

William Alwyn wrote a tremendous amount of music beginning at a relatively early age, however, he didn't begin work on his First symphony until he was forty-three years old. The first performance took place in 1950 under the baton of John Barbirolli, who promptly commissioned the Second symphony for the Halle Orchestra, of which he was principal conductor. Although Alwyn ultimately completed five symphonies, the Second (1953), which he called his "little symphony," was his personal favorite. It's a two movement work, with barely a pause between the movements, and thirty-one minutes long in this recording by Hickox and the LSO. It's a pleasing work, modern in outlook in a British tonal way, and if it sounds a bit like an extended film score that's because Alwyn was one of the most successful writers of his time for that medium. The overall conception is atmospheric - there are no memorable melodies; with Alwyn it's all about establishing a mood and developing it.

The symphony and the fillers for this disc are representative of Alwyn's preoccupation with the pursuit of beauty, a leitmotif that runs through his musical output, the landscapes he painted later in life and the poetry that he wrote. This pursuit was really one of the "Ideal of Beauty," for his music is never saccharin - in fact, far from it. "The Magic Island," a lush-sounding, mysterious fantasy, is representative in this respect. It's a wonderful piece of music, similar in conception to the composer's "Autumn Legend," also commissioned by Barbirolli who gave the premier, which, if you know the conductor's way with Vaughan Williams or Sibelius, should speak volumes about the score.

Richard Hickox and the London Symphony turn in gorgeous readings of this music and have been beautifully recorded by Chandos. All in all a wonderful disc.