Lossless Malcolm Arnold – Dances

Early in World War II Arnold was a conscientious objector, in common with a number of other leading musicians. He was allowed to continue his work as an orchestral player, taking the position of first trumpet in the London Philharmonic in 1943. In the same year, however, he volunteered for military service, but was discharged after shooting himself in the foot. Thereafter he played second trumpet to his teacher Ernest Hall in the BBC Symphony Orchestra, then rejoined the London Philharmonic, where he served as principal trumpet until 1948. During these years he continued to work as a composer, writing a series of successful orchestral compositions and a variety of chamber music.

After 1948 Malcolm Arnold was able to earn his living as a composer. In the 1960s he settled in Cornwall, where he became closely involved with the musical activities of the county. In 1972 he moved to Dublin, his home for the next five years, and then to Norfolk. Over the years his work was much in demand for film scores, of which he composed some eighty. He wrote concertos for an amazing variety of instruments, nine numbered symphonies, sinfoniettas, concert overtures and other orchestral works. His chamber music is equally varied, and there is a set of works for solo wind and other instruments, aptly meeting the demands of competitive and solo recital performance.

In style Malcolm Arnold had a command of popular idiom, and this may have suggested to some an unfavourable identification with the world of light music. He was, in fact, a composer of considerable stature, technically assured, fluent and prolific, providing music that gives pleasure, but also music that may have a more somber side, work that may be lyrical and tuneful, or even astringent and harsh in its revelations. Donald Mitchell has compared Arnold, illuminatingly, with Dickens, both of them great entertainers but both well aware of the human predicament, unsettlingly revealed, as he points out, in the remarkable series of symphonies. Malcolm Arnold passed away on 23 September 2006.

ARNOLD, M.: Dances

English Dances, Set 1, Op. 27

1. No. 1. Andantino 00:02:51
2. No. 2. Vivace 00:01:45
3. No. 3. Mesto 00:02:25
4. No. 4. Allegro risoluto 00:01:38

English Dances, Set 2, Op. 33

5. No. 1. Allegro non troppo 00:03:08
6. No. 2. Con brio 00:01:29
7. No. 3. Grazioso 00:02:29
8. No. 4. Giubiloso 00:02:13

Four Scottish Dances, Op. 59

9. No. 1. Pesante 00:02:08
10. No. 2. Vivace 00:02:09
11. No. 3. Allegretto 00:03:10
12. No. 4. Con brio 00:01:22

Four Cornish Dances, Op. 91

13. No. 1. Vivace 00:01:37
14. No. 2. Andantino 00:03:09
15. No. 3. Con moto e sempre senza parodia 00:02:36
16. No. 4. Allegro ma non troppo 00:02:41

Four Irish Dances, Op. 126

17. No. 1. Allegro con energico 00:01:19
18. No. 2. Commodo 00:02:45
19. No. 3. Piacevole 00:01:38
20. No. 4. Vivace 00:02:07

Four Welsh Dances, Op. 138

21. No. 1. Allegro 00:01:22
22. No. 2. Poco lento 00:03:00
23. No. 3. Vivace 00:02:08
24. No. 4. Andante con moto 00:03:27

Total Playing Time: 00:54:36

Andrew Penny – Queensland Symphony Orchestra (1996)

https://mega.co.nz/#F!kgYnkL7I!z-Q6lM3utsB-mkya_aXzKQ

Wish List
Jerry Goldsmith Small Soldiers complete – Lossless/FLAC
Jerry Goldsmith Raggedy Man – Lossless/FLAC
Mychael Danna – 8mm Lossless/FLAC

Some of the final Dances weren’t even composed when Thomson recorded his set, so it’s a shorter album. But I like Thomson’s breahtless tempi, rather more than e.g. Arnold’s own, lethargic account on Lyrita.

I can’ t download "12. Scottish Dance No. 4 – Con brio". Could you fix the problem, please?