Orchestral Works. / Vol. 2

Abstract

Sir Arnold Bax was one of England's most distinguished composers, although his fame does not match that of his countryman Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) or Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). His music is not typically "British" in general. However, a Celtic sense, particularly in the orchestral works, is owed to his deep affection for Ireland and the time he spent there. Bax's music has been characterized as moody, craggy, and very visual. He acknowledged having been influenced by the music of Jean Sibelius (1868-1957), Richard Wagner (1813-1883), and colorful Russian composers such as Mily Balakirev (1837-1910). Subtly Neo-Romantic with impressionistic strains, he uses chromatic harmonies and rich textures to evoke an emotion or capture the essence of nature. Bax composed in many different genres: concertos, symphonic tone poems, chamber music, symphonies, vocal and choral music, and film scores. If he has a signature work it is probably the symphonic poem Tintagel (1917-19).

Mediterranean, a waltz in 3/8 time, is the result of a trip Bax took to Majorca with his brother and fellow composer Gustav Holst. As an accomplished pianist, Bax knew the technical and timbral possibilities of the instrument intimately. He was quite adept at creating an atmosphere for these short programmatic "character" pieces. This work, which Bax ultimately arranged for orchestra, has a decidedly Spanish flair (similar to Ravel's Alborada del gracioso, which also started life as a piano piece) and light-hearted wit.