My own CD lossless rip

Whether comic or dramatic, Sir Malcolm Arnold's concert overtures are always entertaining fare: lavishly orchestrated, generously stocked with infectious melodies, and featuring not a few strokes of inspiration. Most notorious and hilarious of Arnold's bonbons is A Grand Grand Festival Overture, composed in 1956 for the Hoffnung Festival and featuring such rare instruments as Hoover vacuum cleaners, floor polishers, and a firing squad to dispatch the noisy soloists. (For those who get impatient with the ridiculously long coda, rest assured, it does eventually end). The other selections on this 2005 Chandos release are not as silly, but they are delightful for their vivid scene painting and stylistic gambits; note the jazz inflections in The Smoke, the lively Celtic tunes in Tam o' Shanter, and the screwball polytonality of Beckus the Dandipratt (the work that gained Arnold access to the film industry). Even the more seriously intended overtures, such as Peterloo, The Fair Field, and A Sussex Overture are arresting in their orchestration and melodic invention, and Arnold's buoyant personality shines through, even when the musical arguments are most contentious. The BBC Philharmonic, directed by Rumon Gamba, turns in luscious performances full of bright colors and vital rhythms, and Chandos offers wonderfully realistic sound quality.


1 A Grand Grand Festival Overture, Op. 57 (1956) 7:59
Allegro con brio - Molto meno mosso e maestoso -

2 Peterloo, Op. 97 (1967) 10:08
Overture for Orchestra
Andante con moto - Allegro vivace - Con fuoco -

3 The Smoke, Op. 21 (1948) 7:57
Overture for Orchestra
Vivace ma non troppo - Andante con moto - Tempo I -

4 Tam o' Shanter, Op. 51 (1955) 8:16
Overture after the Poem of Robert Burns
To Michael Black
Poco lento - Allegretto - Vivace - Allegretto - Allegro -

5 A Flourish for Orchestra, Op. 112 (1973) 3:25
Giubiloso - Allargando - Meno mosso

6 The Fair Field, Op. 110 (1972) 7:17
To William Walton with the greatest esteem and affection
Vivace - Allegro con brio - Lento e maestoso

7 A Sussex Overture, Op. 31 (1951) 9:18
For Herbert Menges and the Brighton Philharmonic Society
Allegro con brio

8 Anniversary Overture, Op. 99 (1968) 4:19
for Orchestra
Allegro giubiloso

premiere recording
9 Robert Kett, Op. 141 (1990) 7:52
Overture
Lento e maestoso - Alla marcia

10 Beckus the Dandipratt, Op. 5 (1943) 7:57
Comedy Overture for Full Orchestra
Allegro ma non troppo
75:43

https://mega.co.nz/#F!VkZBRaqY!FO_j3-FLfOtKVoPtiW4tJw


BBC Philharmonic
Kathy Jones principal vacuum cleaner
Helena Miles sub principal vacuum cleaner
Chris Hoyle section vacuum cleaner
Fiona Macintosh principal floor polisher

Rumon Gamba: Conductor

Recorded in:
Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester
20-22 January 2004
Producer(s)
Brian Pidgeon (Executive)
Ralph Couzens (Recording)
Sound Engineer(s)
Stephen Rinker
Tom Parnell (Assistant)
Format: Digital CD 16Bit 44.1Khz
Originally recorded in: 24Bit 96Khz

Thank you again for another great, classical share!

Did not know the BBC Philharmonic had such TIDY people.

Thanks once again.

Did not know the BBC Philharmonic had such TIDY people.

Indeed; they turn in a nice, clean performance - with a lot of polish.

I was about to give this the brush off as I thought it was a joke, but there really are vacuum cleaners! Thank you for this entertaining collection dmoth.

thanks dmoth

Interesting thank you.

dmoth just a question not a complaint: why do you upload the tracks individually ? is not easier for you the whole set ?

Your welcome Scoremaniatc, hope you enjoy.

I am quite new to uploading and I'm not really sure what you mean? When using Mega I open file and it loads the tracks individually. Is there an easier way? I would welcome your advice. :-)

And two minutes later here is your post of Mr. Gamba's Arnold Overtures. Thank you!

What a nice post dmoth!Many thanks!

Thank you!

Love Arnold's work, thanks for sharing!!

Marvellous. Love the vacuum cleaners!

Thanks.