During his lifetime, Sir Arnold Bax was one of British most honored composers, with a knighthood and many honorary degrees. His musical style is filled with opulent harmonies and chromaticism, drawing on two of his acknowledged influences, Richard Wagner (1813-1883) and Jean Sibelius (1868-1957). Inspired by ancient Irish folklore, his symphonic works, in particular, reflect a Celtic flavor. Moody, cinematic, and sensual, these Neo-Romantic works are richly textured and impressionistic. A very prolific composer with an impressive body of work, Bax wrote concertos, symphonic tone poems, chamber music, symphonies, vocal and choral music, film scores, and a good deal of solo piano music. One of his most popular works is the symphonic poem Tintagel (1917-19).

A Dream in Exile was dedicated to Bax's piano teacher, Tobias Matthay. The title could not be more apt for this exotic reverie. Chromaticism and the sophistication of the extended chord structures transport the listener far from the British shores. There are two thematic groups. The first is based on an "Eastern" sounding melody, rhapsodic and improvisatory in nature. The second, a lovely, almost sentimental theme in major, emerges out of these meditative meanderings. This is followed by a return of the opening with one last quotation of the second theme, softly ending in a minor key. Bax later used some of the material from this solo piano piece in November Woods, one of his many symphonic tone poems.

© 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.