Malcolm Arnold

Donald Macleod journeys through some of the contrasting sides of Sir Malcolm Arnold and his music

Sir Malcolm Arnold was a prolific composer, writing music in many different genres ranging from nine symphonies and over twenty concertos, to chamber music, music for brass bands and nearly one hundred and twenty film scores. These many works for film include classics such as Hobson’s Choice, Whistle Down the Wind, the St Trinian’s films, and The Bridge on the River Kwai for which he won an Oscar. He composed works for some of the very top performers in the music industry including Julian Bream, Julian Lloyd Webber, Larry Adler, Frederic Thurston, Benny Goodman, and collaborated with the likes of Deep Purple and Gerard Hoffnung. His music crossed social boundaries and gave pleasure to so many, and yet his personal life was marred by alcoholism, depression and periods of hospitalization. He’s been described as a larger than life character, outrageous, Falstaffian, Bohemian, and some of the stories which circulated about Arnold have become the stuff of legend.

Across the episode Donald Macleod traces Sir Malcolm Arnold’s life through exploring five different influences upon the composer’s music, from his love of Cornwall and Ireland, to his own mental and emotional wellbeing.

Music featured:
The Belles of St Trinian’s (Prelude)
Symphony No 2, Op 40 (Lento)
String Quartet No 1, Op 23
Clarinet Sonatina, Op 29
English Dances Set 1, Op 27
Three Shanties, Op 4 (Allegro vivace)
Four Cornish Dances, Op 91
Fantasy for Guitar, Op 107
Symphony No 8, Op 124 (Allegro)
Philharmonic Concerto, Op 120
Suite Bourgeoise for flute, oboe and piano (Tango)
Concerto for Organ and Orchestra, Op 47
A Grand Grand Overture, Op 57
Symphony No 4, Op 71 (Allegro)
Concerto for Two Pianos (3 Hands), Op 104
The Padstow Lifeboat, Op 94
Divertimento for flute, oboe and clarinet, Op 37
Little Suite No 1, Op 53
Fantasy for Brass Band, Op 114
Concerto for Two Violins, Op 77
Hobson’s Choice (Overture)
The Sound Barrier
Five Blake Songs, Op 66
Symphony No 5, Op 74

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales

For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Malcolm Arnold https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000b8hm

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z