Symphony 3

In C sharp minor, 4 movements, 1931-32†, 53:30

Commenced on 18 April 1931
First movement sketched by 23 May 1931, whole symphony drafted by 16 July 1931
FS completed 28 May 1932

2 solo pianos
2 piccolos, 4 flutes (2 also piccolos), 4 oboes (2 also cors anglais), 4 clarinets (2 also bass clarinets), E flat clarinet, 4 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon, 8 horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 2 tubas, 2 timpanists, bass drum, side drum, tenor drum, cymbals, tam-tam, triangle, tambourine, castanets, organ ad lib, 2 harps, celesta, strings

I Andante moderato e sempre sostenuto e marcato
II Lento sempre marcato e rubato
III Allegro vivace
IV Lento solenne

United Music Publishing Limited

Timings

Pope 1974Friend 1988Friend (Hyperion) 1988
I Andante moderato e sempre sostenuto e marcato19:2518:2119:45
II Lento sempre marcato e rubato13:2513:1714:13
III Allegro vivace8:087:258:11
IV Lento solenne12:2112:3213:21
Total53:1951:3555:30

Articles

• A listener’s impressions – Martyn Becker
• Second thoughts – Christopher Kettle
• Early English atonality in the first movement – Martin O’Leary
• New vistas – Martyn Becker

Performances

12 January 1974 [first performance] BBC Maida Vale Studio no. 1, London
18 October 1974 BBC Radio 3
Ronald Stevenson, David Wilde (pianos), New Philharmonia Orchestra*, conductor Stanley Pope
17 May 1987 [first public performance] Town Hall, Birmingham, UK
Composers’ Platform West Midlands Symphony Orchetra, conductor Paul Venn
• Review of Composers’ Platform WM SO/Venn performance – David J Brown
26 October 1988 Invitation concert, BBC Maida Vale Studio no. 1, London
1989 ? BBC Radio 3
Andrew Ball, Julian Jacobson (pianos), BBC Symphony Orchestra led by Bela Dekany, conductor Lionel Friend
27–28 October 1988 BBC Maida Vale Studio no. 1, London
Andrew Ball, Julian Jacobson (pianos), BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Lionel Friend

Recordings

Aries LP 1617
12 January 1974 [first performance] BBC Maida Vale Studio no. 1, London
Ronald Stevenson, David Wilde (pianos), New Philharmonia Orchestra*, conductor Stanley Pope
Hyperion CDH55029 released September 1999
27–28 October 1988 BBC Maida Vale Studio no. 1, London
Andrew Ball, Julian Jacobson (pianos), BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Lionel Friend