Edmund Rubbra - Symphonies Nos.2 & 6

 

Edmund  RUBBRA (1901-1986)

Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 45; 

Symphony No. 6, Op. 80. 

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Richard Hickox.

During the late 70s, there was some correspondence from those of us who wanted to hear more Rubbra - any Rubbra. The late Hugo Cole of the Guardian said Rubbra's music was too contemplative. Colin Seamarks, a Rubbra expert, hit straight back and said while Cole was reviewing yet another Beethoven symphony, he had been at the Round House listening to a rare performance of Rubbra's 2nd symphony and that perhaps he would have changed his opinion if he had been there, implying one should not speak of what one knows not. The 2nd symphony is one of the most exciting of all. It somehow tames the style of the first movement of the 1st symphony into something less dense but retains the relentless contrapuntal drive in more simple textures. In this work, the drum beat - slowly but relentlessly increasing in rate, signals the increase in tension - builds up, relaxes, builds up again. He keeps you on a line but finally lets rip. The control of the ebb and flow of pace is crucial to bringing out the best of this composer's work. This is a really exciting piece and would go down a bomb in the concert hall but there is little hope of that. It sends tingles down the spine. Buy this CD instead.

The 6th is generally considered to be one of the most beautiful of Rubbra's symphonies. There is more sense of orchestral colour and the contrapuntal drive is less. The characteristic ebb and flow of pace is the same - generating and easing the tension all the time. The crowning glory of this work is the slow movement - canto. Inspired by the Italian poet, Leopardi: Always was this lonely hill dear to me. And this hedge which shuts out so much of the distant horizon. This is a most beautiful movement, probably the most beautiful he ever penned. Rubbra lived in Gerrards Cross and had a view of the Chilterns from his house. He was deeply religious and one can only suppose there was some alchemy between the beauty of the landscape and his own visionary nature which produced this extraordinary music.

The performances by Hickox and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales are first rate and the recording by Chandos is superb.

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