Malcolm Arnold

Malcolm Arnold
1921-2006

Malcolm Arnold was a 20th Century British composer.

I normally come to a composer's music via their choral or vocal music, occasionally through their solo piano music. In the case of Arnold, I don't think I know any of his works in the field of voice or piano.

First and foremost, it is his film music which introduced me to the composer's name, for he has some famous titles to his name. Then it was the road to his orchestral Dances and eventually his symphonies, although I didn't explore them for long.

Arnold was a composer of tonal music, who mixed modernism with a love of Romanticism and jazz, aspects which can be heard through his music. He obviously had a populous streak, for his film music still has a public consciousness today. His absolute music could be tougher, but like Britten who I recently explored, everything he wrote was based in a tonal world. Thus, there is an opportunity of appreciation from any lover of Classical Music.

For this listener, most of the music of Malcolm Arnold will be exploratory, as for some reason or another, I was put off his music at some point and never returned. This will give me a chance to revisit some recordings I have, and delve into ones new to me. As I learn more about the composer, I will add to this page.

Recordings and reviews currently on hand
(Click orange links to visit a musing):

Recordings

1995: Symphony 1 & 2
1996: Dances
1996: Little Suites & Concerto
2000: Film Music, Vol. 1
2000: Film Music, Vol. 2
2005: Overtures
2006: Return of Odysseus
2006: Eleven Symphonies (Handley set)
    •  Symphony 1 & 2; String Symphony
    •  Symphony 3 & 4
    •  Symphony 5 & 6
    •  Symphony 7 & 8
    •  Symphony 9 & Brass Symphony
2006: Orchestral Works (Handley set)
    •  Overtures and Dances
    •  Overtures and Suites
    •  Music for Brass
    •  Piano Music
2006: Seventeen Concertos (Handley set)
    •  Violin, Viola, Flute, Oboe, Recorder
    •  Clarinet and Horn Concertos
    •  Piano Concertos
    •  Harmonica and Guitar Concertos
          Concerto for 28 Players & Philharmonic
2007: String Quartets
2009: Ballet Music
2025: Choral Music & Concertos