大象传媒

Donald Macleod explores Malcolm Arnold鈥檚 personal demons, including alcoholism and subsequent breakdowns.

Sir Malcolm Arnold was a prolific composer, writing music in many different genres ranging from nine symphonies and over 20 concertos, to chamber music, music for brass bands and nearly 120 film scores. These many works for film include classics such as Hobson鈥檚 Choice, Whistle Down the Wind, the St Trinian鈥檚 films, and The Bridge on the River Kwai for which he won an Oscar. He composed works for some of the very top performers in the music industry including Julian Bream, Julian Lloyd Webber, Larry Adler, Frederic Thurston, Benny Goodman, and collaborated with the likes of Deep Purple and Gerard Hoffnung. His music crossed social boundaries and gave pleasure to so many, and yet his personal life was marred by alcoholism, depression and periods of hospitalisation. He鈥檚 been described as a larger than life character, outrageous, Falstaffian, Bohemian, and some of the stories which circulated about Arnold have become the stuff of legend.

Across the week, Donald Macleod journeys through Sir Malcolm Arnold鈥檚 life by exploring five different influences upon the composer鈥檚 music, from his love of Cornwall and Ireland, to his interest in being a composer for the people. In today鈥檚 programme, the focus is upon Arnold鈥檚 personal life including alcoholism, emotional and mental breakdowns, to periods in hospital and asylums.

Sir Malcolm Arnold had a dependence upon alcohol for much of his life. He also had a history of poor mental and emotional health, and at times was violent towards others. On many occasions, he was admitted to a hospital, or an asylum, and experienced insulin shock treatment, and electro convulsive therapy. His life was far from idyllic, and yet his music gave great pleasure to so many, including his film scores for Hobson鈥檚 Choice and The Sound Barrier, to what many consider his best symphony, the Fifth.

Hobson鈥檚 Choice (Overture)
London Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hickox, conductor

The Sound Barrier
London Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hickox, conductor

Five Blake Songs, Op 66 No 3 (Allegretto 鈥� 鈥淗ow sweet I roamed from field to field鈥�)
Five Blake Songs, Op 66 No 4 (Andante con moto 鈥� 鈥淢y silks and fine array鈥�)
Pamela Bowden, contralto
大象传媒 Northern Orchestra
Malcolm Arnold, conductor

Symphony No 5, Op 74
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Malcolm Arnold, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for 大象传媒 Wales

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