Symphony No.1 in G major - York Bowen

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.

I - Allegro assai - Poco meno mosso - Tempo I - Largamente - Tempo I - Poco meno mosso - Tempo I. Animato - Più largamente - Allegro molto: 0:00
II - Larghetto: 12:02
III - Finale. Allegro con brio - Largamente - Meno mosso - Animato - Tranquillo - Tempo I: 20:00

Bowen's Symphony No.1 was composed in 1902, while he was studying composition at the Royal Academy of Music. At least one movement of the piece was played at the Academy, but The work had to wait until 2010 for its long-delayed full premiere, when it was at last revealed thanks to the enterprise of the English Music Festival. This recording was the second performance of the piece.

Although one may be forgiven for assuming the symphony to be merely an academic exercise, it exhibits a poetical mastery, and a command of the material and its developmental working that show the self-assured teen-aged composer to have absorbed influences from older contemporaries (Sullivan, Edward German and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor), yet already setting out on his individual path. Unusually divided in three movements, we don't find the usual scherzo in the piece.

The first movement is structured in sonata form. It begins with a gentle and graceful main theme, becoming more expansive and noble as it unfolds. A deeply lyrical second theme is presented by the clarinet, full of a slavic flavour. After a transition, a more dramatic and expressive development begins, rising in a grand climax. The recapitulation brings back the main themes. An exciting coda of great brilliance ends the movement.

The second movement is written in form of an arch. It opens with a nostalgic and lyrical main theme introduced by the clarinet, followed by wood arabesques. The theme is then taken by other instruments that add their own colours. An expressive central climax is reached, followed by a brief flute solo. The main theme is then richly recapitulated. A peaceful coda ends the movement.

The third movement is structured as a modified sonata form. It begins with a rhythmic and animated main theme on strings, contrasted by a more melodic second theme on cellos, growing with great voluptuosity. The development section seems calm at first, but suddenly a more heroic and forceful third theme appears, leading to more dramatic climaxes. The main themes are recapitulated, leading us to a triumphal coda that ends the work in a powerful way.

Picture: "Road, New England" (1902) by the American painter Childe Hassam.

Musical analysis written by myself. Source: https://tinyurl.com/22y5ote5

Unfortunately, the score is not available.