Bax recordings
Fri, Nov 4 2011, 9:13PM
Since Tagalie has commented on Bax recordings in the Inverne Resignation & Rubbra posts, joined by Bliss in the latter I thought we should have a Bax posting. I have been listening to more Bax this year since I read Lewis Foreman's excellent biography which comes with a comprehensive discography as well as complete list of works. It was also good to hear the broadcast of the 2nd symphony as one of the only two British symphonies performed at this year's Proms. A friend who attended the concert but who didn't know Bax's works was impressed (but as an organist he thought the instrument should have been given a bit more to do!).
It seems Bliss and Tagalie rightly like the Lyrita recordings. My first exposure to the symphonies was to 1 & 7 on a Lyrita CD and I was much impressed by both performances and recordings: Leppard's 7th I thought electrifying. Then I got the Bryden Thomson set. Again very fine performances but the sound perhaps a little over reverberant losing some orchestral detail in climaxes but with the Ulster orch well up to the LPO in No 4. Then following Gramophone's rave reviews I got Vernon Handley's set. I usually much admire his recordings, in particular his CfP Elgar, VW & Delius but somehow something doesn't quite gell with me in his Bax set and I think Bliss may have hit on it with the recorded sound. I don't think it's the orchestra (who I think may have an exclusive recording contract with Chandos hence the choice) but the venue and I wonder if the sound has had artificial reverberation added to it.
Recently I considered myself fortunate to obtain the remaining 3 Lyrita symphony recordings on LP in the recent auction of new old stock LPs belonging to label's founder. So far I've only listened several times to No2 and agree with Tagalie that both performance and recorded sound are superb (Decca's unsurpased balance engineer Kenneth Wilkinson at Walthamstow). A pity Lyrita left two symphonies unrecorded. I haven't heard any of David Lloyd Jones's recordings of Bax.
I was also going to comment on Bax's works for piano and orchestra which were new to me 'til I read the book and his solo piano works, but I've gone on enough for now. Is it though now time to comment on a composer's class? Someone who was brought up in very wealthy surroundings and spent the last dozen or so years of his life living in a rather spartan room in a pub!
Sat, Nov 5 2011, 11:13AM
#2
RE: Bax recordings
Well thank you Dr.B.
I don't agree with some of your comments about either the composer or the recordings, but it was such a pleasure to see a post from you that proffered something approaching a sensible opinion.
Sat, Nov 5 2011, 10:52PM
#3
RE: Bax recordings
I haven’t heard any of the Handley Bax symphony cycle aside from the snippet put out by Gramophone on the apparently much-missed covermount cd. With at least three copies of all his symphonies, going back to vinyl days, I had to call it quits on my Bax collection before my wife started asking embarrassing questions. Anyway, for my taste the Thomson set is just about the last word. I believe Bax’s orchestral music benefits from the 3D sound-stage and obvious affection Thomson gives it, which some find too wallowy.
I have Handley on the Spring Fire and Concertante for Left Hand cds, both good but missing the touch Thomson used to bring. Strangely, the shoe switches feet when you compare both conductors in the Symphonic Variations. Handley, with the REAL Joyce Hatto, is more relaxed than Thomson is with Fingerhut. Perhaps it’s the pianist, because I don’t care for Fingerhut in Winter Legends either. Too hard-driving. If you can find it, get the Handley/Hatto, it’s a treasure.
As for Lloyd-Jones’ Naxos discs, they’re certainly interesting but not quite my cup of tea. Whether it’s the recording – close, hard, analytical – or the conductor I’m not sure. Certainly Lloyd-Jones was out to deglaze Bax and underline his structure. But the whole exercise reminds me of that craze for close focus in Debussy piano recordings back in the 70s. Interesting for a change but you couldn’t help feeling the baby had vanished with the bathwater and were glad to get back to the real thing.
Even though Lyrita used different conductors the approach across their 5 recordings was similar, a touch less dreamy than Thomson but certainly not as in-your-face as Lloyd-Jones. Leppard did a superb job with #7 but they're all good. I can't believe the bass response out of those old lps, better than most cds.
Bax’s chamber music is very worthwhile, especially those works for larger forces – the Nonet, Octet and Septet. It’s these that point to what could be considered a weakness in the composer’s chamber output. It’s really orchestral music in disguise, sort of short-score realizations of bigger, more colourful ideas.
Listening to them again recently, I feel I’ve underestimated the quality of his off-the-beaten-track works – the two ballets and film music. Even when his heart wasn’t truly in it – as it wasn’t with the film scores, he could still write very skillfully.
Incidentally, for one of THE great extra-musical links, if you get a chance, drive through Scotland’s Applecross Hills north towards Shieldaig. The road gets up pretty high so is often fogged in, but at one point as you begin to descend you get a sudden and very dramatic view of sea, sky and mountains – Loch Torridon or Loch Kishorn, years since I did it and I can’t recall which. The vista is the opening of the third movement of the Bax 5, to a T.
Sat, Nov 5 2011, 11:19PM
#4
RE: Bax recordings
I knew I had a number of Thomson's Bax recordings on LP but your comments above about his recordings of the symphonies led me to my LP files and, lo and behold, I have all seven symphonies too!! Must have been ages since I've played them, having preferred (I thought) the Lyrita recordings.
So thank you, tagalie. I now have a new project - playing Thomson's version of the symphonies. As an aside, I have Thomson's LP of Harty's Children of Lir and Ode to a Nightingale. On the cover his name was spelled "Thompson". And I just did the same thing in typing his name above but corrected it before posting it.
Sun, Nov 6 2011, 12:14AM
#5
RE: Bax recordings
As an aside, I have Thomson's LP of Harty's Children of Lir and Ode to a Nightingale. On the cover his name was spelled "Thompson". And I just did the same thing in typing his name above but corrected it before posting it.
You may have a collector's item there, Bliss. I have the same lp - Chandos with Heather Harper (one of my all-time favourites) and Thomson's name is spelt correctly.
I didn't realize the symphonies appeared on vinyl, although I did buy Thomson's first set of the tone poems on lp. Sold it and bought the cd, my first ever cd purchase. Comparing cd and lp, Sounds in Retrospect said it was 'as if a veil had been lifted' from the sound, and I agree. Don't know if the same applies to the symphonies.
Sun, Nov 6 2011, 12:56PM
#6
RE: Bax recordings
For an international listener and collector, Bax came as a very good surprise of an underrated but great nonetheless composer, whose musical style could easily and effectively combine romanticism and impressionism, while his orchestral scores were marvelous for their inspired complexity and colourful instrumentation.
Despite his obvious English background, his parents were of Dutch descent and himself had a strong affinity with Ireland, while he was fascinated and influenced by Norway, Russia and other Slavic countries.
To me, his masterpieces are some of his tone-poems, especially Titangel, November Woods and Summer Music. His Symphonies are arguably the most coherent cycle of Symphonies by any composer of his time, particularly in U.K. They represent his many influences and constitute profound works of art with a deep psychological dimension linked with his unique evocations of magnificent scenery.
Unfortunately for him, his concertante works were not that successful: His Violin Concerto was discarded by his dedicatee Jascha Heifetz, who refused to played it...ever. To Bax dismay, his Cello Concerto was neglected by its dedicatee Gaspar Cassado and never played during his lifetime too.
His Chamber Music is extremely large with works for Harp (3), Violin (7), Viola (4), Cello (4), Flute (2), Clarinet (1), Trios (3), Quartets (4), Quintets (5) and for Six or more instruments (4)! His piano music is vast enough as well as his Vocal music. His Chamber and Piano Music, despite some very interesting features, lack the tight form which is indispensable for making them sound great. That's one of the main musical reasons why they are not performed that often compared to his orchestral music, which can convince thanks to the fascinating orchestration and the coherent complexity of the actual score.
As for the recordings of the Symphonies and the important tone-poems, I happened to get some of the Handley/BBC P.O. CDs on Chandos, which won, by the way, a Gramophone Award back in 2003, when they were released. They are wonderfully clean and impressive recordings, a bit better than the Thomson one. Naxos has indulged much in the Chamber Music of Bax, with a very good number of convincing recordings. His piano music is scattered in different recordings of various, mostly obscure, labels and uneven pianists (except maybe Eric Parkin on Chandos).
Parla
Sun, Nov 6 2011, 3:46PM
#7
RE: Bax recordings
Well I wondered if anyone had heard the real Joyce Hatto recording liked by Tagalie, but presumably now disappeared for good, as Foreman rates it highly in his book. Yes the Fingerhut performances are hard driven but most of the music is pretty uncompromising and perhaps needs it. Ashley Wass's (Naxos) Winter Legends is not greatly different, perhaps marginally more relaxed and with good orchestral playing from James Judd in Bournemouth, upfront piano and spectacular orchestral sound (very much in the Chandos style) I enjoyed it. I haven't heard Wass's Symphonic variations though. I think these concertante works must have suffered through Bax giving his lover, muse (and eminence grise?) Harriet Cohen exclusive performing rights to them during her lifetime. Another recording I like is the Concertino, left unfinished by Bax and completed by Bax scholar Graham Parlett. It's no miniature being a full-blown concerto half hour work and the recent recording by Mark Bebbington I thought excellent. (probably its first performance - I don't have the notes as I bought it as a lossless download).
Iris Loveridge gives good interpretations of the piano music on 3 Lyrita CDs but the sound, recorded by the company's founder Richard Itter in his own house, cannot compare with Wass sounding rather better in the excellent acoustics of Potton Hall. I haven't heard the usually reliable Parkin but can recommend Wass.
Sun, Nov 6 2011, 11:24PM
#8
RE: Bax recordings
Parla wrote "his cello concerto was neglected by its dedicatee Gaspar Cassado and never played during his lifetime too".
Well I hate to disagree with Parla but according to Lewis Foreman's biography Cassado who commissioned the work did give the first performance with Hamilton Harty and the LSO on 5th March 1934 in the Queen's Hall. Apparently Bax said "It is a tricky but interesting undertaking - though I would never have considered writing such a thing if I had not been bullied into it". Beatrice Harrison subsequently played it many times and Bax is said to have commented that she played it better than any other cellist but "her rubatos must be kept under control". In contradiction however he said in 1947 "the fact that nobody has ever taken up this work has been one of the major disappointments of my musical life"
Sun, Nov 6 2011, 11:59PM
#9
RE: Bax recordings
I knew and relied on his own statement rather than any other "scholar"'s account. I believe Cassado didn't play it, because the work is outside the great cellist's style. In any case, it didn't mean to become a major work, despite the composer's affection for it. It happens almost all the time.
In any case, Bax was a great but,as all these composers of this kind and fate, uneven composer in his impressive output.
Parla
Mon, Nov 7 2011, 12:37AM
#10
RE: Bax recordings RE: Bax recordings
[quoteYou may have a collector's item there, Bliss. I have the same lp - Chandos with Heather Harper (one of my all-time favourites) and Thomson's name is spelt correctly.
I didn't realize the symphonies appeared on vinyl, although I did buy Thomson's first set of the tone poems on lp. Sold it and bought the cd, my first ever cd purchase. Comparing cd and lp, Sounds in Retrospect said it was 'as if a veil had been lifted' from the sound, and I agree. Don't know if the same applies to the symphonies.
[/quote]
"Thompson" appears only on the cover. The jacket notes and LP have it spelled correctly. I played the LP of the 1st symphony of Bax last night and was disappointed about the sound (the veil did indeed need to be lifted). The performance itself is much slower than Fredman and Handley, very laid back.
Mon, Nov 7 2011, 1:47AM
#11
RE: Bax recordings RE: Bax recordings
[quote I played the LP of the 1st symphony of Bax last night and was disappointed about the sound (the veil did indeed need to be lifted). The performance itself is much slower than Fredman and Handley, very laid back.[/quote]
That's what I feared. Thomson's approach does call for clear recording and a well-engineered sound stage. I recall that what was rather muddy on the lp came through as transparent and atmospheric on the cd.
None of us have mentioned Bax's choral music. There are the various songs for tenor and orchestra and a Handley Chandos disc containing Enchanted Summer - very dreamy and lush but the recording is far too vague and recessed. On the other hand there used to be an lp by the BBC Northern Singers conducted by Stephen Wilkinson, entitled "Of a Rose I Sing". It contains his Magnificat, a couple of Christmasey songs, Five Greek Folksongs and the outstanding Mater Ora Filium. I believe this recording made it onto cd and if the sound is anything like my lp, it's well-worth seeking out. One of the best-recorded choral lps I own.
Mon, Nov 7 2011, 3:44AM
#12
RE: Bax recordings RE: Bax recordings
I just did something I haven't done in ages - I cleaned my stylus. I then played the LP Thomson Bax #1 again and was very pleased with the sound this time. While probably not as clear as the CD it is a very acceptable substitute - and there were no clicks either. In all, I rather enjoyed his interpretation, an interesting contrast to Handley. Now on to #2.
Mon, Nov 7 2011, 10:27AM
#13
RE: Bax recordings
Collecting Bax symphonies because of mis-spellings on the cover is probably the best Bax can hope for.
Tue, Nov 8 2011, 12:20AM
#14
RE: Bax recordings
Thank you do much, Doctor, for your usual erudite comments. I have just discarded all of my Bax recordings (LPs, tapes and CDs) and feel so much better. Thanks again and please continue with your sage advice on matters musical, or anything else your vast knowledge entails. Or have I misunderstood your meaning? If so, apologies are in order.
Tue, Nov 8 2011, 12:26AM
#15
RE: Bax recordings
...er, no, I think you got it right, no need for an apology.
...but thanks anyway.
The Lyrita coupling of symphonies 1 and 7 is excellent. The 6th symphony on Lyrita seems a very underpowered performance agaisnt the Lloyd Jones on naxos, but for what many consider his greatest symphony it all seems a bit whimsical. The 2nd, at least in the performance by Lloyd Jones comes across as film music and the third in the performance by Barbirolli on dutton doesn't seem to amount to much either. I like the disc of the Nonet and other chamber music with the Nash ensemble on Hyperion, but I can't say anything really strikes me as being first rate. Bax is a composer who just never seems to be good enough despite the force (at times) and the arrray of ideas in his first symphony. In the first symphony, at least, he seems a little weighed down my his many ideas, instead of just pruning a bit and strenghtening the work, like Slbelius. An interesting by-water in his best works, a trivial bore in his lesser works. The Lyrita 1 and 7 and the Nash Hyperion discs are worth exploring though, and he is British so he will appeal to all those who mistakenly think we do it better here.