Richard Rodney Bennett

Richard Rodney Bennet’s Symphony No. 3 commissioned for the 1987 Three Choirs Festival by the Elgar Foundation with additional funds from West Midlands Arts is now published in a facsimile study score.In contrast with his first two symphonies which were rather extrovert display pieces Symphony No. 3 is quite thoughtful and lyrical in nature more or less monothematic and has a strong feeling of tonality particularly at the opening and closing of the score. The more moderate orchestration (2 Flutes Oboe Cor Anglais 2 Clarinets in B flat Bassoon 2 Horns in F Percussion 1 (small Triangle Tam-tam 3 suspendedCymbals) Percussion 2 (side Drum tubular Bells) Timpani Piano Harp and Strings) also reflects this. Performance time of the three movements is ca. 22 minutes.Sir Richard Rodney Bennett was an English composer of film TV and concert music and also a jazz pianist. He was based in New York City from 1979 until his death there in 2012.

'I responded to this exciting but rather daunting commission by writing a very lively and I hope very accessible piece which I decided before I started composing should be full of tunes. I wrote it in memory of my dear friend Sheila MacCrindle who died in 1993... although this partita is in her memory it never occurred to me to make it gloomy or dirge-like; that is not how I remember her.' Richard Rodney Bennett.Commissioned by British Telecommunications plc in co-operation with the Association of British Orchestras 95/96 season. Facsimile Study Score. Duration: c.17 mins. The full score and material is available for hire from Novello.