John Blackwood McEwen: Symphony in A minor on YouTube

[patmos.beje]

The entire Symphony can be found on YouTube (see links below).  (It is "McEwen" not  McEwan)

I see that on 24th October 2017 I posted a link to the then available second movement.  This is what I wrote then:

<  This is the second movement Andante quasi adagio of McEwen's Symphony in A minor composed between 1895 and 1899 and published in 1903 in a String Quartet adaptation due to it not being performed in its orchestral version. The chief subject of the movement is a traditional fiddle tune The Arran Boat Song [information derived from Alasdair Mitchell's 2002 PhD thesis].

Publicity about the performance states "the concert promises to be particularly notable for its rendition of John Blackwood McEwan's Symphony in A Minor, of which this performance is the English Premiere!" (see: https://www.dur.ac.uk/whatson/event/?eventno=9084)

The String Quartet adaptation String Quartet No.2 in A minor is available on the Chandos CD of Volume 3 of McEwen's String Quartets with the Chilingirian Quartet. >

Symphony in A Minor by Sir John Blackwood McEwan (sic). Conducted by Gerard Doherty, the Glasgow Sinfonia performance at their 2012 winter concert.

1st Movement - Allegro Mercato



2nd Movement - Andante Quasi Adagio



3rd Movement - Vivace Molto Meno Mosso



4th Movement - Allegro Vivace Presto

[Albion]

Many thanks! I have put a single MP3 file of the performance in the archive.

 :)

[Vandermolen]

It sounds rather good. I've recently been enjoying the Border Ballads, Solway Symphony and especially the valedictory 'Where the Wild Thyme Blows' which I find rather moving.

[Albion]

It sounds rather good. I've recently been enjoying the Border Ballads, Solway Symphony and especially the valedictory 'Where the Wild Thyme Blows' which I find rather moving.

And then there's the substantial "Hymn on the Morning of Christ's Nativity" also recorded by Chandos and the Viola Concerto on Hyperion, both worth exploring...

 :)

[JimL]

I take it this is not one of the standard numbered symphonies.

[Albion]

I take it this is not one of the standard numbered symphonies.

McEwen's symphonies are not usually numbered, although "Solway" (1911) is somtimes referred to as "No.5". The A minor is "No.4" - according to the 2002 PhD thesis by Alasdair Mitchell three earlier symphonies are lost and the original fifth movement of the A minor symphony was later reworked as "Coronach" (recorded by Chandos)...

 :)