Some British Symphonies Celebrating their Half Centenary (1970)

Symphonies that were premiered/composed in 1970 have fared reasonably well over the past 50 years. At least, relatively speaking. Out of fifteen examples cited in the Tune a Day Blogspot, seven have a good commercial recording. A couple of others are available as broadcast recordings. It is safe to say that none have become an established part of the nation’s symphonic repertoire.  The biggest ‘hitter’ is William Alywn’s Sinfonietta No 1 for string orchestra with no less than three CDs currently available: on Lyrita, Chandos and Naxos.

Based on other music available and reviews, I guess there is a pressing need for a recording of Martin Dalby’s Symphony No 1 and a commercial recording of Robin Orr’s Symphony No.2.  Dalby’s piece gets good (if qualified) reviews I reviews in the Musical Times. Another possible contender would be Richard Stoker’s Little Symphony.

Finally, I feel that [Lord] Ian Balfour (1924-2013) is a composer who could be resurrected. He is probably best recalled as a diamond expert and author. According to Who’s was Who, Balfour composed nine operas and numerous orchestral works. 

William Alwyn: Sinfonietta No 1 for string orchestra London Philharmonic Orchestra/William Alwyn (includes Derby Day Overture, The Magic Island, Six Elizabethan Dances and Festival March) LYRITA SRCD.229 (1992) (original LP release: Lyrita SRCS.85, 1975)

London Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hickox (includes Symphony No.5 and Piano Concerto No. 2 Howard Shelley (piano) Chandos CHAN 9196 (1993) 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones (includes Symphony No. 4) Naxos 8.557649 (2005) 

Ian Balfour: Symphony No 2 (1965-70)
No recording available.

Francis Chagrin: Symphony No 2 (1965-1971)
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins (includes Symphony No. 1 (1946-59, rev 1965)
NAXOS 8.571371 (2016)

Martin Dalby: Symphony No 1
No recording available.

Proinnsías Ó Duinn: Symphony No 1
No recording available.

Benjamin Frankel: Symphony No 7, op 50
Queensland Symphony Orchestra/Werner Andreas Albert (includes Symphony No. 8, A Shakespeare Overture and Overture to a Ceremony) CPO 999 243-2 (1998)

Alexander Goehr: Symphony in One Movement, op 29 (1969-70, rev. 1981) 

New Philharmonia Orchestra/Edward Downes, (includes Romanza for Cello and Orchestra) Intaglio INCD 7671 (1993) 

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/ Richard Bernas (includes Piano Concerto (Peter Serkin, piano) NMC DO23 (1995) 

Gordon Jacob: A York Symphony for brass band

I was unable to locate a commercial recording of this work, however a version by the Black Dyke Mills Band conducted by Eric Brand, has been uploaded to YouTube. It would appear to have been broadcast on the BBC Bandstand show on Radio 3 (15 October 1973) 

Wilfred Josephs: Symphony No 4, op 72 for alto, baritone, and orchestra (1967-70)

No recording available. 

John Joubert: Symphony No 2, op 68 (In memory of those killed at Sharpeville 21/3/60))

Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Martin Yates (includes Carlo Martelli: Symphony, William Alwyn: The Fairy Fiddler: Prelude and Derrybeg Fair) Dutton Epoch CDLX 7270 (2011) 

Rodney Newton: Symphony No 1 (1967-70)

Mؘalaga Philharmonic Orchestra/ Paul Mann (includes Symphony No. 4 and Distant Nebulae) 

Toccata Classics TOCC0459 (2018) 

Rodney Newton: Symphony No 2 (1967-70)

No recording available, however as the Symphony No.1 was part of Volume 1 of Newton’s ‘Orchestral Music’ it is possible that this Symphony will become available in the (hopefully) near future. Based on the two available Symphonies, it will be a valuable addition to the repertoire. 

Robin Orr: Symphony No 2 (one movement)

No recording available. However, this work is accessible on a file sharing platform. 

Richard Stoker: Little Symphony 

No recording available. 

Egon Wellesz: Symphony No 8, op 110 

Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra/Gottfried Rabl (includes Symphony No. 1 and Symphonic Epilogue) CPO 999 998-2 (2004)