Alwyn 2

I have been thinking how I am working through the 366 symphonies. I have not been very consistent and planned, grabbing CDs at random or taking what is on Radio 3. 

I realise I have not yet listened to any works by some of my favourite symphonists (Tchaikovsky, Martinu, Malcolm Arnold and Prokofiev are the major omissions so far) and there are some composers who have written many symphonies - Mayaskovsky for example - who have not featured so far. Bruckner is a slight exception as I listened to 8 of his symphonies before I started this blog and that was the basic inspiration for the 366 in the year.

It seems like I might get through the five Alwyn symphonies fairly quickly. I want to consider again if the fourth is my favourite, but I had forgotten how very good the second symphony is. With its dramatic opening and serene ending and much else besides, it reminds me a lot of Vaughan William's sixth. That is not to call it a simple copy, it's a fine work in its own right and another symphony which is too little performed.