Symphony No. 1 (Bax)
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The Symphony No. 1 by Arnold Bax was completed in 1922 and dedicated to John Ireland.
It is scored for 1 piccolo doubling flute, 3 other flutes, 1 bass flute, 2 oboes, 1 English horn, 1 heckelphone or bass oboe, 3 clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 1 double bassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba, timpani, bass drum, tenor drum, snare drum, tambourine, cymbals, gong, triangle, bells, xylophone, glockenspiel, celesta, 2 harps and strings.
It is in three movements:
- Allegro moderato e feroce - Moderato expressivo - Tempo I
- Lento solenne
- Allegro maestoso - Allegro vivace ma non troppo
The opening movement begins with a significant motif in the symphony, one which is eventually turned into a triumphal march in the relatively short finale for Bax. Arnold Bax's Symphony No. 1 is in many ways autobiographical, with music critics at the time saying that they could find references within the work to The Great War (World War I) which occurred around the period it was written. The second subject of the first movement is deeply expressive, almost romantic as to evoke his deep love for his partner and pianist Harriet Cohen, for whom Bax wrote many works expressively (including Bax's most well known orchestral work, Tintagel).
The second movement is in many ways a nostalgic elegy which is even more darkly scored than its predecessor opening movement. This movement uses new material, and contains an important motif that uses repeated chords, as to shake a fist at heaven.
The finale sees a triumphal march made out of material from the first movement and containing the first signs of hope in this symphony, a deeply contrasting mood to the opening two movements of the symphony.
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