Dyson's one symphony was composed at about the same time as such disturbed or disturbing English symphonies as Walton's First and Vaughan Williams' Fourth. Unlike them, this is a work of self-assurance. In style, it is a rich, late Romantic symphony with relatively large dimensions, lacking the 20th century tendency towards nervousness. Contemporary critics compared the effect of this music with the feeling experienced upon entering a great cathedral, with the jewelled colors of glowing stained glass windows. An extremely worthwhile piece, which deserves to be heard more often.

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