Talk:Malcolm Arnold

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Why are his works for brass quintet listed under "Band" and not "Chamber Music"?

[edit] Request for removal

Four paragraphs I think should be removed, and will unless there are objections:

First three because they are trivial compared to many other aspects of his biography:

He was also the patron of the Rochdale Youth Orchestra until his death in September 2006.
The Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra made the first commercial recording of Divertimento for the Pye label in July 1967 and performed many of his works. Arnold also conducted the orchestra in a 1963 De Montfort Hall concert.
Malcolm Arnold wrote the Trevelyan Suite to mark the opening of Trevelyan College, University of Durham. His daughter was among the first intake of students.

They do not give any indication about the importance of Arnold's association with any of these groups, nor why they should be selected among the many conducting appearances and commissions in his career.

The fourth paragraph I want to remove is incredibly in need of citation:

From the early 1970s he was snubbed by large sections of the British music establishment, notably BBC Radio 3 and the Proms. They disliked his success with film music, and that his own work was melodic when atonal was the fashion.

It cannot stand as NPOV without citations of quotations from BBC Radio 3 and the Proms saying that they disliked his success and snubbed him. Even an "Arnold asserted that he was snubbed" needs a citation.

--Myke Cuthbert 03:19, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

I can see where you are coming from, and think you have a point - on the need for a citation I agree 100% (I think the paragraph is probably correct, but it is too strong a statement to stand without citation).

I think 'first commercial recording' is a notable event for any classical work, and personally would like to see a list of all first commercial recordings. I think that the Trevelyan connexion is made by the reference to his daughter being one of the first students there - there may be something to be made also of the Cornish roots of the Trevelyan family and Arnold's residence in Cornwall. DuncanHill 03:37, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

I guess I agree that the first commercial recording is notable, but it seems to me more notable for the ensemble than for the composer, since, as you note there's no larger context that gives the first commercial recordings made of other works. Agreed, that it's not inappropriate information to maintain, but it does not make the article look professional. I doubt a published encyclopedia article of similar length on Arnold would consider mentioning this information. But I'll leave it in on your recommendation, perhaps to spur further work on the composer. --Myke Cuthbert 06:10, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Career highlights

Somehow this section is not very useful. How does one define the term anyway?

Perhaps better to integrate it in the main biography (it needs an overhaul anyway) and get rid of it. Objections? Beckus 19:49, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Did some cleanup with the biography section. Needs much, much more work. When I find the time. Beckus (talk) 13:48, 9 March 2008 (UTC)