This splendid CD by the British ensemble East Winds (not to be confused with the U.S. East Winds Ensemble) will deepen the general appreciation for Malcolm Arnold, inasmuch as the composer's music for winds, with the possible exception of the genial Three Shanties, Op. 4, remains known mostly to enthusiasts outside of Britain. The music comes from various stages of Arnold's career, but much of it dates from the 1940s and reflects the composer's engagement with light music and with American jazz. This aspect of Arnold's ...
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This splendid CD by the British ensemble East Winds (not to be confused with the U.S. East Winds Ensemble) will deepen the general appreciation for Malcolm Arnold, inasmuch as the composer's music for winds, with the possible exception of the genial Three Shanties, Op. 4, remains known mostly to enthusiasts outside of Britain. The music comes from various stages of Arnold's career, but much of it dates from the 1940s and reflects the composer's engagement with light music and with American jazz. This aspect of Arnold's music remains underrated. He did not treat American music abstractly or sensually as most of his European contemporaries did; instead, he remains true to the spirit of jazz while still elaborating the material in ways derived from the concert traditions of his day, principally of the neo-Classic variety. The music on the album ranges from pieces closely akin to Arnold's film scores to clever little dissections of jazz, with the Suite Bourgeoise of the early '40s (tracks 13-17) offering...
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