Wow. My post about Klaus Tennstedt Saturday for his centenary put me up over 800 followers. I can’t even keep up with responses to the comments. Thanks, everybody! I always try to post good or interesting material, but you know, if a tree falls in the woods, etc.
To keep it musical, as today’s 800-pound gorilla, I’d like to share the Symphony No. 5 by Richard Arnell, which the composer subtitled the “Gorilla” – a humorous analogy between the work and a gorilla he visited at the London Zoo. It has a great tune in the last movement, derived from the music hall, that Arnell’s father used to sing and whistle.
It’s a live performance by the Arizona-based MusicaNova Orchestra, which has done so much to champion Arnell’s music over the years (and neglected repertoire in general).
Last month I attended the Bard Music Festival in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, and then had to move on to a wedding in Vermont.
During my Bard stay, over breakfast at the inn, I met someone with the unusual name of Arnell. His first name, I mean. He was an African American male, probably around 40, a writer from L.A., who was there to see his daughter start school at the college. I only mention his race, because not long after, I was in a convenience store in the mountains of Vermont, and I noticed the name tag on an older white woman behind the register, probably in her 70s. The tag, as by now surely you’ve anticipated, also read Arnell!
Being Classic Ross Amico, I had to ask both of them if they were familiar with the composer Richard Arnell or if, at the very least, their parents were musical.
I first learned of Richard Arnell, born on this date in 1917, from a recording of his Sherlock Holmes ballet, “The Great Detective.” But he was also a renowned symphonist, who spent the war years here in the United States, cut off from his home in the U.K. while visiting the 1939 World’s Fair. Here, he cultivated important friendships with Bernard Herrmann, Virgil Thomson, and Sir Thomas Beecham (who, alongside Sir John Barbirolli and Leopold Stokowski, championed his concert works). He also wrote film music for Robert J. Flaherty and ballets for George Balanchine and Frederick Ashton.
A few years ago, when WPRB 103.3 FM still had five hours a day devoted to classical music, I hosted a marathon tribute to the composer for the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth. To this end, I had the support of two of the composer’s younger friends – Patrick Jonathan, who now makes his home in Malaysia, and Warren Cohen, who is music director of the MusicaNova Orchestra, based in Phoenix, AZ. Both of them were very generous with their time, sharing anecdotes, recordings, and, in the case of Jonathan, historical documents. As luck would have it, Cohen actually makes his home in New Jersey, just about an hour away. So he was able to drive down and join me for an in-studio interview.
Here’s a link to our conversation.
MusicaNova is a fascinating organization whose mission it is to present “the greatest music you’ve never heard – yet.” In fact, Cohen has conducted first American performances of a number of Arnell’s major works. The sound file includes a MusicaNova performance of Arnell’s Symphony No. 5 – subtitled “The Gorilla” (!) – and Cohen’s gorgeous arrangement for string orchestra, sanctioned by the composer, of the “Elegy” from Arnell’s String Quartet No. 3.
This season, among its more unusual offerings, MusicaNova will present rarely-heard music by Lou Harrison and Germaine Tailleferre, a world premiere by Manel Burgos de la Rosa, and a work by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor that hasn’t been heard in the United States since 1912! Visit the orchestra’s website, and if you find yourself in the area, treat yourself to a musical adventure.
It turns out neither of my recent Arnell acquaintances came from musical families. How many people have Arnell for their first name? It shall remain one of those great mysteries, why the universe would bother to tantalize me with two Arnells living on separate coasts, encountered over several days, roughly four hours apart.
Verily, it is a case worthy of the Great Detective!
With the weekend nearly upon us, here are two musical diversions for your consideration.
The first is an absorbing conversation about Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4. Dr. Benjamin Korsvedt chats with MusicaNova Orchestra music director Warren Cohen. Cohen and the orchestra would go on to present the world premiere of the rediscovered 1878 version of Bruckner’s most popular symphony – 144 years after it was composed! To experience the performance, you have to order the CD or BluRay, but the tantalizing conversation is free. You’ll find all the information here:
MusicaNova Orchestra has a reputation for its truly remarkable programming. You will find music performed there that you won’t encounter anywhere else. Bookmark their homepage, and if you happen to find yourself in Arizona, definitely check them out.
Then head back to the East Village to enjoy a hit of Handel in Campos Community Garden. Here’s H. Paul Moon’s concert film of Handel’s “Orlando.” The distillation is by Metropolitan Opera countertenor Jeffrey Mandelbaum, who also assumes the title role. Plenty of greenery and bird song with lovely music, and without the sun and bugs.
Certainly, you all know by now how enthusiastic I am about unusual, neglected, and worthwhile repertoire. Here’s a composer who is so neglected, he didn’t even turn up in my birthday references for today – or at any rate, those I checked – Richard Arnell (1917-2009), known to his friends as Tony.
A few years ago, when WPRB 103.3 FM still had five hours a day devoted to classical music, I hosted a marathon tribute to Arnell on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth. To this end, I had the support of two of the composer’s younger friends – Patrick Jonathan, who now makes his home in Malaysia, and Warren Cohen, who is music director of the MusicaNova Orchestra, based in Phoenix, Arizona. Both of them were very generous with their time, sharing anecdotes, recordings, and, in the case of Patrick, historic documents. As luck would have it, Cohen actually makes his home in New Jersey, just about hour away. So he was able to drive down and join me for an in-studio interview.
If you missed it, here’s a link to our conversation. MusicaNova is a fascinating organization whose mission it is to present “the greatest music you’ve never heard – yet.” In fact, Cohen has conducted first American performances of a number of Arnell’s major works. The sound file includes a MusicaNova performance of Arnell’s Symphony No. 5 – subtitled “The Gorilla” (!) – and Cohen’s gorgeous arrangement for string orchestra, sanctioned by the composer, of the “Elegy” from Arnell’s String Quartet No. 3.
Learn more about this neglected English master, who was championed by Beecham, Stokowski, and Bernard Herrmann, by listening here:
It’s been brought to my attention by Patrick Jonathan that tomorrow will mark the tenth anniversary of the passing of English composer Richard Arnell. While I am not in the habit of commemorating death anniversaries, I will make an exception in the case of this neglected and deserving composer of much attractive and inspirational music.
Join me today on The Classical Network, following today’s Noontime Concert, for a sampling of Arnell’s output. Just how much of it will be heard remains to be seen. I’ve pretty much got a clean slate from 1 to 4 p.m. EDT.
First, we’re off to midtown Manhattan for another concert presented under the auspices of Gotham Early Music Scene (or GEMS). Empire Viols will perform a program of transcriptions of organ trios by Johann Sebastian Bach and Bach pupil Johann Ludwig Krebs. The concert was given last June at Saint Bartholomew’s Church, 325 Park Avenue, as part of GEMS’ free Midtown Concerts series. Free concerts are held at St. Bart’s every Thursday at 1:15 p.m. This Thursday, Douglas Lundeen will perform a recital of French works composed for the piston-valve French horn. To find out more, visit gemsny.org.
Then stay tuned, as I dip into my arsenal of Arnell. I’ll be manning the cannons against the canon, from 12 to 4 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
If you’re interested, here’s a link to a conversation I had with Warren Cohen, music director of the MusicaNova Orchestra. Musica Nova is a really fascinating organization, based in Phoenix, AZ, that bills itself as presenting “the greatest music you’ve never heard – yet.” Cohen knew Arnell personally and gave the U.S. premieres of a number of his major works. The interview took place on the occasion of the composer’s centenary. The soundfile includes a Musica Nova performance of Arnell’s Symphony No. 5 – subtitled “The Gorilla!” – and Cohen’s beautiful arrangement for string orchestra, sanctioned by the composer, of the Elegy from Arnell’s String Quartet No. 3.
