MalcolmArnold, Sir; Wind Quintet

An important and significant work, written in London in 1942 and now published for the first time: 60 years later! The first movement is tuneful and full of those surprises Malcolm loves to introduce in his music. There are no shortage of jazz inspired ideas, coloured always by that Arnold ‘edge’. The second movement is a fiendish scherzo – full of amazing cross rhythms and of immense energy. The final movement is a March and the most emotionally charged. Clearly very strongly anti-war – severe and angry dissonances, mocking fanfares, angular and brutal melodic and rhythmic shapes. ‘The edition is well prepared and a highly-recommended addition to the quintet repertoire.’ Music Teacher Magazine, January 2004