Noted for his versatility and accessibility, composer Malcolm Arnold has enjoyed a popularity, during his lifetime, that has eluded many composers. Born in Northampton, England (the hometown of another well known British composer, William Alwyn) he entered the Royal College of Music in 1938 to study the trumpet with Ernest Hall and composition with Gordon Jacob. After only two years he left school to join the London Philharmonic, thereby establishing his reputation as a very fine trumpet player. It was in the 1940s that he started composing in earnest. One of his first major orchestral works, Beckus the Dandipratt, was written in 1943 and performed by his orchestra, the London Philharmonic, in 1947. Arnold's style, at one time chided by critics and the musical elite, is an interesting blend of fluff and profundity: traditionally tonal with the use of "pop" styles such as music hall and jazz, but tinged with darkness and dissonance. This dichotomy is especially evident in the symphonies. Arnold's impressive body of composition includes concertos, chamber music, symphonies, and ballets. But, he is perhaps best known to the public for his over 100 film scores such as Hobson's Choice (1953), The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958), and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), for which he won an Academy Award. Also highly respected for his conducting skills, Arnold has led many of England's finest orchestras in concert and on recordings.

Arnold wrote A Sussex Overture in 1951 for conductor Herbert Menges and the Brighton Philharmonic Society. A little over twelve minutes in length, it is lively, energetic, and fun. The principal theme, made up of the intervals of a fourth and a sixth, dominates throughout. (It sounds somewhat like the clichéd "car horn.") The composer's love for jazz is apparent in the use of extended chords (sixths, ninths, etc.) and the orchestration is skillfully handled. There is a very extensive development section that puts the principal theme through its paces. Lacking a specific "program," the rhythm and momentum of the piece seem to suggest the rollicking seaside resort for which it was written, Brighton. Readers are encouraged to listen to Malcolm Arnold's Symphony No. 2 (1953), Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano, Op. 54 (1956), and the soundtrack to The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). Fans of twentieth-century British music should turn next to the music of Robert Simpson (1921-1997), William Alwyn (1905-1985), Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), Gustav Holst (1874-1934), Edmund Rubbra (1901-1986), Michael Tippett (1905-1998), and William Walton (1902-1983).

Similar compositions: On the Sea Shore by Arnold Bax (1883-1953) The Sea, H. 100 (1911) by Frank Bridge (1879-1941)

Recommended recording: Reference Recordings 48 with Malcolm Arnold conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra

© 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.