Bax: Symphony No. 5; The Tale the Pine-Trees Knew. David Lloyd-Jones, Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Naxos 8.554509.(Review)

Bax: Symphony No. 5; The Tale the Pine-Trees Knew. David Lloyd-Jones, Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Naxos 8.554509.

I used to have a favorite recording of the Bax Fifth Symphony in the old LP days, by Raymond Leppard on Lyrita as I recall, long since gone, a casualty of the CD era. It's been some time since I last heard the work, and, frankly, I didn't remember much of it after 20-odd years. But I knew after listening to David Lloyd-Jones's rendition on this budget-priced Naxos issue that I still like it, especially in its dramatic new aural setting.

Arnold Bax (1883-1953) was a contemporary of Vaughan Williams, and both men were considered natural successors to Edward Elgar as deans of 20th-century British music. Bax took an early liking to the poetry of W.B. Yeats and his Celtic mythology, and much of Bax's music reflects the imagery and atmosphere of Celtic legend. However, his Fifth Symphony, often considered the best of the seven he completed, is a little different in that he said his biggest influence was the Nordic moods of Sibelius. The Fifth was even premiered in 1934 under the baton of one of Sibelius's champions, Sir Thomas Beecham. Sibelius or no, I continue to hear more of the craggy ruggedness and brooding echoes of Tintagel and the coast of Cornwall in the piece than any specific Norse themes. ...