This work, subtitled Nature Poem, has always struck me as being one of the most underrated of Bax's tone poems. Whilst not the peer of Tintagel or The Garden of Fand from a melodic point of view, it is certainly a prime example of the composer's ability to write for strings. Rather than providing a muted chromatic accompaniment to emotional outbursts in the brass and percussion sections, as they do elsewhere in Bax's catalogue, here divided strings and a harp are used in a decisive - almost brash - manner. They provide the listener with images of the subject forest which vary from mildly amused to incandescent joy.

Written originally in 1914, it was not fully orchestrated till 1921 in the run up to completion of the First Symphony. In its final form it is certainly one of the works which forecasts the composer's imminent change in artistic direction, which will become obvious as the symphonic cycle unfolds.

© All Music Guide

Portions of Content Provided by All Music Guide.
© 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. All Music Guide is a registered trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.