Don't let the large separation in symphony numbers fool you: these are all late works by English composer Havergal Brian, who wrote the majority of his symphonies after age 80. The single-movement Symphony No. 8 in B flat minor was composed in 1949, when Brian was a comparative youngster of 73. Despite its residence in the tonal orbit, it is really unlike anything else ever written: "a more contemporary British Mahler who tried to encompass a pastoral world" might catch some of it. The work is built on sharp contrasts; it ...
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Don't let the large separation in symphony numbers fool you: these are all late works by English composer Havergal Brian, who wrote the majority of his symphonies after age 80. The single-movement Symphony No. 8 in B flat minor was composed in 1949, when Brian was a comparative youngster of 73. Despite its residence in the tonal orbit, it is really unlike anything else ever written: "a more contemporary British Mahler who tried to encompass a pastoral world" might catch some of it. The work is built on sharp contrasts; it threatens to become incoherent at times, but does not, and the strong forward motion impelled by the New Russia State Symphony Orchestra under Alexander Walker helps hold the music together. Brian's symphonies proceed roughly from larger (the vast Symphony No. 1 in D minor, "Gothic") to smaller, and the three works here run from longer to shorter. They are, however, all comparatively relaxed next to some of the incredibly terse utterances of Brian's great old age. You might sample the...
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![Havergal Brian: Symphonies Nos. 8, 21 & 26 [New Russia State Symphony Orchestra; Alexander Walker] [Naxos: 8573752]](https://www1.alibris-static.com/cover/o37319xb038_t.jpg)
