Symphony No. 9 (Arnold)

The Symphony No. 9, Op. 128 by Malcolm Arnold was finished in 1986. It is in four movements:

• I. Vivace
• II. Allegretto
• III. Giubiloso
• IV. Lento

The symphony is scored for two flutes, piccolo, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, two percussionists, harp and strings.[1]

The symphony is dedicated to Anthony Day, who looked after Malcolm Arnold from 1984 to 2006.[1]

It was first performed in 1988 in a private run-through by the now defunct Orchestra of the National Centre for Orchestral Studies conducted by Charles Groves in Greenwich.[2]

The first professional and public performance was given on Monday 20 January 1992 by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in Manchester also conducted by Charles Groves.[2]

The last movement is as long as the previous three together, uses a theme similar to the last movement of Mahler's Ninth Symphony, and is very sparsely scored and bleak.[3]

Commercial recordings

• 1996 Andrew Penny and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra on Naxos Records 8.553540 (recorded 11–12 September 1995, in the presence of the composer)[2]
• 1996 Vernon Handley and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on Conifer Records 75605-51273-2[4]
• 2001 Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra on Chandos Records CHAN 9967[5]
• 2021 John Gibbons and the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra on Toccata Classics TOCC0613

References

1. Piers Burton-Page. "Malcolm Arnold: Symphony No 9, Op. 128 (1986)". Wise Music Classical. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
2. Piers Burton-Page. "Malcolm Arnold (b. 1921): Symphony No.9, Op. 128". Naxos Records. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
3. "A neglected 20th century masterpiece". On an Overgrown Path. 21 September 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
4. "Arnold: Symphony No. 9 / Concertino for Oboe and Strings / Fantasy for Oboe". HBDirect.com. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
5. "Arnold: Symphonies 7, 8 & 9". Chandos Records. Retrieved 3 September 2020.