Malcolm Arnold is known, among other things, for his concise concertos, mostly for winds. This concerto followed the first flute concerto by about 20 years, and was written for the same soloist. Despite these similarities, the works are very different. Although this is still a short work, the first movement is rather lengthy and serious, about as long as the other two put together. This concerto includes wind instruments (the other one had strings only). Being a representative work of a later period of Arnold's career, the sound of the work is leaner and the tone of the melodies is more troubled, even somewhat bitter. Oddly enough, there is no slow movement; the opening is Allegro moderato, the middle movement is Vivace, and the finale is Allegretto. Both the two last movements evoke the rhythm of the waltz, although in quite different ways. The concerto may lack the surface joyfulness which has made the first concerto a pretty popular work, but it has almost as much brilliance and considerable depth of expression. A very good work.

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