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Manchester Sinfonia

Manchester Sinfonia is a vibrant professional which serves a variety of purposes such as making recordings of music by living composers, accompanying choral societies and performing concerts either as self promotions or engagements. Its members are the cream of musicians in and around Manchester, which helps to produce exceptional performances of the highest quality. The orchestra’s début concert appearance at the Carlisle Festival immediately led to return visits. Its recordings include the music of Philip Spratley and Christopher Wright. ARNOLD Richard Howarth

After studying at the Royal College of Music, Richard Howarth played with the City of Birmingham Symphony and BBC Concert and as Leader of the Ulster Cello Concerto Orchestra before becoming Leader of Manchester Camerata in 1989. He has appeared as guest leader with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Scottish and Welsh Symphony Orchestras, BBC Philharmonic, Hallé, Orchestra of Symphony for Strings St John’s Smith Square, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, East of Orchestra and Bournemouth Sinfonietta. He was a founder member of Manchester Chamber Ensemble and plays with Trio Melzi. Fantasy for Recorder and String Quartet

Raphael Wallfisch, Cello John Turner, Recorder Northern Chamber Orchestra Manchester Sinfonia Nicholas Ward Richard Howarth 8.572640 8 572640 bk Arnold EU 29/6/11 10:22 Page 2

Sir Malcolm Northern Chamber Orchestra

ARNOLD Formed in the 1960s, the Northern Chamber Orchestra has (1921-2006) gained a formidable reputation performing music from Corelli to Stravinsky and beyond. The members are distinguished Cello Concerto, Op. 136 20:19 chamber musicians who play as principals with other 1 Allegro 6:42 orchestras and as soloists. Concerts are given throughout the 2 Lento 7:56 northern half of England and the orchestra accompanies the 3 Vivace 5:41 main opera productions at Buxton Festival. The NCO has recorded over thirty CDs with many outstanding reviews: the Concertino for Flute and Strings, Op. 19a 8:16 recording of Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale was considered by 4 Allegro 3:07 BBC Radio 3’s CD Review programme to be the best English 5 Andante 3:11 version. 6 Allegretto 1:58 Photo: Tom Bangbala Fantasy for Recorder and String Quartet, Op. 140 12:34 7 Andante e mesto 3:09 8 Allegro 1:36 9 Lento e mesto 2:43 Nicholas Ward 0 Allegretto 1:33 ! Vivace 3:43 Nicholas Ward was born in Manchester and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music before moving to Saxophone Concerto 10:06 where he joined the Melos Ensemble and the Royal @ Allegro ma non troppo 4:48 Philharmonic Orchestra. This was followed by work mainly # with the London Mozart Players and Academy of St Martin-in- Andante con moto 2:45 the-Fields before he became a member and then latterly leader $ Alla Marcia 2:33 of the City of London Sinfonia. Since the early 1980s he has Symphony for Strings, Op. 13 21:51 been Artistic Director of the Northern Chamber Orchestra, % Allegro ma non troppo 8:27 directing the orchestra from the leader’s chair. ^ Andantino, quasi allegretto 7:32 & Allegro feroce 5:52 Photo: Tom Bangbala Recorded at Withington Girls’ School, Manchester, UK, on 21st February, 2011 (tracks 1-3); at Alderley Edge Methodist Church, Cheshire, UK, on 23rd January, 2006 (tracks 4-6, 12-14); at Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester University, UK, in September 2003 (tracks 7-11); and at St Thomas’ Church, Stockport, UK, on 9th October, 2006 (tracks 15-17) In acknowledgement of the generous support of: Morwenna Brooke, Ida Carroll Trust, David Ellis, Joan Gibbs, Patricia Gillett, Jennie and Geoff Hollman, David Kingsley Joan Matthews, Terry McGaull, Peter Mountain, Margaret Stewart, Peter Thomasson, Margaret Webb and Sue Williams.

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John Turner Sir (1921-2006) Orchestral Works John Turner moved from a legal career to become one of the country’s leading recorder players, performing and being broadcast as soloist with the Academy of St ‘Music appeals to me chiefly because of its abstract simple descending figure, a dark rocking phrase and a Martin-in-the-Fields, Academy of Ancient Music, English Chamber Orchestra, quality,’ wrote Sir Malcolm Arnold in 1956. more rhythmically complex jaunty motif. The rocking English Baroque Soloists, Early Music Consort and many others. His recordings Consequently it is not surprising to find numerous phrase soon transforms into the lyrical second subject include five sets of Brandenburg Concertos and much contemporary repertoire. He examples of all the classical forms, symphonies, and the movement unfolds as these three ideas are has played in four continents and given many recitals on BBC Radio 3. He has given concertos, sonatas, sonatinas, and (a particular favourite subjected to all sorts of repetitions and lively the premières of over 500 works and received an honorary Fellowship from the of his) the fantasy, among his large output. This contrapuntal interplay. The second movement begins RNCM for his services to British music. fascinating disc brings together an example of each (in with a dramatic motif that could well have formed the one form or another) thus giving the listener a real theme for the film Lawrence of Arabia that Arnold insight into the manner in which Arnold brought his famously turned down. This four-note cell forms the very distinctive voice to each of these forms and made basis for much in this dark and mystical movement. them very much his own. The disc also brings together Like so much of Arnold’s later music this movement works from both ends of his compositional life, and speak directly from the soul. The lively final interestingly, the quintessential Arnold style is movement’s main subject is a close relation of the abundantly clear in both. That style is not easy to jaunty motif from the first movement. The music dances express concisely – there are so many paradoxes to along in a quasi rondo-like structure. A broad and lyrical Photo: Teresa Dietrich contend with: Arnold possessed a melodic invention theme of almost Elgarian quality forms the basis for a second to none but also enjoyed a fascination for more number of the ‘episodes’. There is a short cadenza severe, serial writing. He loved exploring long before the final coda brings the work to an exciting end Carl Raven expressive melodies but also building structures using with a fleeting reference to the opening of the first very short and terse melodic fragments. Though he self- movement. Saxophonist Carl Raven is a versatile instrumentalist, working with artists ranging proclaims his love of abstract music he often fills it with from Wayne Shorter to Stephen Sondheim. He has performed with the Hallé, Royal deep personal meaning. There are other contradictions Concertino for Flute and Strings, Op. 19a Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish, Northern Sinfonia and too but the results are always unmistakable and his Royal Philharmonic orchestras, Opera North and as a concerto soloist, recitalist and music, above all else, appeals directly and The Concertino for Flute and Strings is an orchestration on recordings for television and radio. He is a member of the Apollo Saxophone communicates compellingly with the listener. (by David Ellis) of the charming Flute Sonatina written Quartet. Carl Raven teaches saxophone at the Royal Northern College of Music and in 1948. Like all Arnold’s Sonatinas of the late 1940s Leeds University. Cello Concerto, Op. 136 and early 1950s, the music embodies both the personality of the instrument and its dedicatee, in this Malcolm Arnold wrote eighteen concertos, many as instance Arnold’s friend and fellow student, Richard presents for, or tributes to distinguished players and Adeney (both studied at the Royal College of Music in friends, Larry Adler, Julian Bream, John Lill and the late 1930s). It is the lyrical and gentle side of both among them. His final concerto was that Arnold portrays here, though there are occasional written for and first performed by Julian Lloyd Webber glimpses of Adeney’s more mischievous side. The in 1988. Two years earlier Arnold had written a brilliant urbane first movement is dominated by long and unaccompanied Fantasy for cello and decided to follow delicate melodic lines. The central movement is a that with a full scale Concerto. The current performing sensitive and often ethereal passacaglia, a form much edition, recorded here, was prepared by David Ellis. favoured by Arnold. The final movement does nothing Cast in the traditional three-movement design, the first more than continually re-state a simple but haunting movement begins with three short and pithy ideas: a popular-type melody over the most conventional of

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harmonies. Was Arnold’s developing powers of Saxophone Concerto tightly argued juxtaposing passages of Bartokian a high-spirited dance balanced with perfectly timed invention letting him down a little here? By no means. rhythmic vigor with melting lyricism. The central moments of respite that, like the Saxophone He knew exactly what he was doing – the solution is The Saxophone Concerto is an arrangement (by David movement again demonstrates a structural clarity and a Concerto/Piano Sonata looks forward to the First inevitable and the effect is enchanting. Ellis) of the twenty-one year old composer’s Piano typically resourceful use of materials: a simple scalic Symphony. Sonata. Written the same year as the very popular Three motif virtually provides Arnold with all he needs to Fantasy for Recorder Shanties the work shows the composer developing his weave a beautiful and engaging movement. The finale is Paul Harris and String Quartet, Op. 140 very personal style both in his manipulation of structure and his melodic invention. The first movement begins Throughout his life Arnold enjoyed the self-imposed with a presentation of three ideas – the opening theme Raphael Wallfisch restrictions of writing in the various classical forms undulates lyrically leading to an aggressive repeated- represented on this disc – and his genius is so often to be note figure that is explored at some length before a Raphael Wallfisch was born in London into a family of distinguished musicians and found in the originality and inventive way he handled poetic third idea takes over. Some syncopated chords at the age of 24 won the Gaspar Cassadó International Cello Competition in them. However he also enjoyed the freedom (both in announce the arrival of a new and more enigmatic Florence. Since then he has enjoyed a world-wide career playing with such terms of structure and substance) that the ‘Fantasy’ theme. The remainder of this restless movement orchestras as the London Symphony, Philharmonia, BBC Symphony, English permitted. He wrote no less than eighteen works in this develops these ideas in a variety of imaginative ways. Chamber Orchestra, Hallé, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Berlin Symphony and leading form. Like the Cello Concerto, the Fantasy for Recorder There is no ‘formal’ recapitulation. For a young orchestras around the world. His extensive discography includes the mainstream and String Quartet is another late work. Written in composer, both structurally and melodically, the cello repertoire and many works by British composers that have been written for 1990, it was commissioned by the Carnegie Hall movement is a bold statement. The Andante with its him. Corporation for world renowned Michala Petri who gentle, blues-tinged love theme has a nostalgic feel gave the first performance in 1991 at the Carnegie Hall about it. The music seems to reach a point of indecision in New York. Arnold had already written her a brilliant when suddenly a ghoulish military style march Fantasy for unaccompanied recorder in 1986 and a interrupts and sweeps the music forward. Arnold Concerto in 1988. The version of the Fantasy recorded disliked war and a number of works written around this here is edited by David Ellis. This five-movement work period clearly articulate these feelings. The final explores the great range of sonorities and techniques movements of the Wind Quintet, Op. 2, (1942) and the Photo: Benjamin Ealovega required of the modern recorder player, including First Symphony (1949) include unmistakable anti-war flutter-tonguing, very fast double-tonguing, very high sentiments. There are also passages that foreshadow the notes and glissandi. It also requires four different sizes resolute Symphony for Strings and perhaps even a Esther Ingham of recorder. The dark first movement (for treble homage to Kurt Weill who also detested war. recorder), is in A minor (the work’s home key) and Esther Ingham is a flautist based in the North West of England who regularly plays explores simple arpeggiated figures. It ends most Symphony for Strings, Op. 13 with many British orchestras, including the Hallé, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, unexpectedly with a Tierce de Picardie. The second Bournemouth Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata, Northern movement (for sopranino recorder) is a dazzling scherzo There are no less than twelve Arnold works that bear the Chamber Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia and Ulster Orchestra. In the pit she has requiring considerable virtuosity from the soloist. The title Symphony. The first of these, the Symphony for played with English National Ballet, Montecarlo Ballet and Opera North. She has lyrical and thoughtful theme of the third movement Strings, (commissioned by the Riddick String performed all over Europe and as far afield as Buenos Aries and Rio de Janeiro. She (back in A minor and on the descant) is punctuated by Orchestra, in which Sheila Nicholson, Arnold’s first is also a keen advocate of contemporary music and regularly performs with powerful quadruple stopped string chords and like the wife, was a leading member) is a gritty and powerful Ensemble 10:10. first ends in the major. The fourth movement (tenor work. Like the stylistically similar Concerto for Two recorder) is a gentle waltz and the fifth, the longest Violins (1962) it rarely departs from its serious and movement (treble again), is in a simple rondo form uncompromising language making use (regularly) of demanding great finger dexterity from the soloist. elaborate transformations of short melodic motifs and (occasionally) serial writing. The first movement is

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