Lewis Foreman in his magisterial
book, Arnold Bax: A Composer and his
Times (Woodbridge, The Boydell Press, 1983, 2007) has suggested that the
present short article from the Monthly Musical Record (November 1915) is the ‘earliest…on
the composer that has been traced other than newspaper reviews and lists of
works.’ It comprises a short overview of his life extracted from the Programme
Book of the 'Festival of British Music, 1915 as well as a photographic portrait
of Bax. Little commentary is needed on this text, however, a number of the
concerts and recitals mentioned will bear further investigation.
OUR PICTORIAL PAGE.
We have great pleasure in
publishing in this number a portrait of Mr. Arnold Bax, who was born in 1883,
and entered the Royal Academy of Music in 1900, where he studied composition
for five years under Professor Frederick Corder. He made his debut as a composer
in 1903 at the old St. James's Hall. [1] Since that date he has been prolific in
the matter of composition.
‘A Celtic Song Cycle’ (settings
of some of Fiona Macleod's poems) was produced by Mr. Thomas Dunhill at one of
his British chamber-music concerts in 1907, and several large works were
included in the programmes of Mr. Balfour Gardiner's two seasons of concerts at
Queen's Hall in 1912 and 1913, notably a large choral work, ‘Enchanted Summer’
which was subsequently performed at one of the London Choral Society's concerts
under Mr. Arthur Fagge. A new orchestral work in four movements, ‘Spring Fire’
was down for performance at last year's Norwich Festival, which did not take
place owing to the war. [2]
Much of Mr. Bax's music is
steeped in the mysterious atmosphere of Celtic mythology. In this respect it
has some affinity with the poetry of Mr. W. B. Yeats. Nearly all the orchestral
works are, according to the composer himself, "based upon aspects and
moods of external nature and their relation to human emotion." Mr. Bax's
latest compositions include a Piano Quintet and an orchestral poem, ‘The Garden
of Fand’ inspired by the legend of the enchanted islands in the Atlantic, off
the western shores of Ireland; and some highly interesting pianoforte solos,
entitled ‘In a Vodka Shop’ ‘The Princess’s Rose Garden’, ‘Sleepy head’ and ‘Apple
Blossom Time.’ (Programme Book of the
'Festival of British Music, 1915).
Monthly Musical Record
November 1915.
Notes
[1] The premiere of the String
Quartet in A major composed in 1902. The third movement only was given on 23
November 1903.
[2] ‘Spring Fire’ was not
performed until 8 December 1970, by the Kensington Symphony Orchestra under
Leslie Head.
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