Malcolm Arnold

Writtend for the 1956 Hoffnung Festival this piece is really the stuff of legend. Features solo efforts by 3 Vacuum Cleaners 1 lonely Floor-Polisher and 4 Rifles.

Andantino-English Dances Set I opus 27 is a light classic composition that was written for orchestra by the British composer Malcolm Arnold in 1950. The set contains four dances that continue without pause: the individual movements are indicated by the tempo markings. The work came about at the request of Bernard de Nevers at the time the head of publisher Alfred Lengnick and Co. who asked Arnold to write a suite of dances as an English counterpart to Dvo ákâ??s Slavonic Dances and Bartókâ??s Romanian Folk Dances. The première took place in the spring of 1951 played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult. Following the success of the first set DeNevers asked the composer to write a second one which Arnold completed the next year (Op. 33). The Andantino from the first set has been skilfully arranged and orchestrated for brass band by Ray Farr. English Dances Set I opus 27 is a light classic composition that was written for orchestra by the British composer Malcolm Arnold in 1950. The set contains four dances that continue without pause: the individual movements are indicated by the tempo markings. The work came about at the request of Bernard de Nevers at the time the head of publisher Alfred Lengnick and Co. who asked Arnold to write a suite of dances as an English counterpart to Dvo ákâ??s Slavonic Dances and Bartókâ??s Romanian Folk Dances. The première took place in the spring of 1951 played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult. Following the success of the first set DeNevers asked the composer to write a second one which Arnold completed the next year (Op. 33). The Andantino from the first set has been skilfully arranged and orchestrated for brass band by Ray Farr.

The River Kwai March was composed by Malcolm Arnold for the 1957 film The Bridge On The River Kwai. It is a counterpoint melody to the well-known theme tune of the film the Colonel Bogey March which was written earlier by the British Army Bandmaster Kenneth J Aldford. It has been arranged here for solo Piano.Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006) was an English composer who is best remembered for his film scores most famously the St Trinian's series. However he also wrote several orchestral works and ballets. He studied Trumpet and composition at the RCM before becoming a professional trumpeter playing as Principal Trumpet with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

One of the towering musical figures of the 20th century Sir Malcolm Arnold has a remarkable catalogue of major concert works to his credit including nine symphonies seven ballets two operas one musical over twenty concertos two string quartets and music for brass-band and wind-band He has also written 132 film scores and among these are some of the finest works ever composed for the medium: Bridge on the River Kwai Inn of the Sixth Happiness Hobson's Choice; Whistle down the Wind and David Copperfield.

Malcolm Arnold wrote this little fantasy in the early 1960s as a present for his children Katharine and Robert to play together. Even as a miniature it has many of the hallmarks of the Arnold style: the evocative melodic writing together with the occasional dark dissonance. It was written at a time when Arnold was deeply into film music; indeed in the famous film 'Whistle Down the Wind' the main theme is also for flute/piccolo and is not entirely dissimilar to that found in this fantasy.

An important and significant work written in London in 1942 and now published for the first time: 60 years later! The first movement is tuneful and full of those surprises Malcolm loves to introduce in his music. There are no shortage of jazz inspired ideas coloured always by that Arnold 'edge'. The second movement is a fiendish scherzo - full of amazing cross rhythms and of immense energy. The final movement is a March and the most emotionally charged. Clearly very strongly anti-war - severe and angry dissonances mocking fanfares angular and brutal melodic and rhythmic shapes. 'A very playable work...with plenty of interest for all the players. A greataddition to the repertoire!' AWTGrade: 8

Denis Wick's arrangement of Three Shanties Opus 4 for Brass Quintet composed by Malcolm Arnold. This is the full score.