(I sometimes wonder why I am more "tolerant" or am certainly prepared to put in more effort with composers who have composed at least one or two works with which I am fully in sympathy ;D Searle and Iain Hamilton ae perfect examples. I adore Searle's First and Second Symphonies...........ergo I am more than ready to listen to the rest of his music and find it-at least-interesting.)
Searle's first two symphonies are of a piece with the rest of his output - quite demanding to listen to. But yes, I still have the old LP of these two fine works.
I am not sure that I quite agree.....but of course it is a matter of personal response. I find the first two symphonies works of immense and, frequently, terrifying power and intensity where as the other three I find complex, difficult and make therefore much less of a visceral impact on me. I can admire but seldom have any real impulse to return to them.
Nos. 1 and 2 are amongst my favourite 20th century symphonies. The slow movement of No.2 is a perfect match of Searle's twelve-note technique and the romanticism he always insisted characterised his style. It builds to the most shattering of climaxes! No.1 is, throughout, a work of imperious power and violence. The fact that Sir Adrian Boult's amazing recording of the work for Decca has never-as far as I know-been released on cd is a long-standing disgrace.