- Malcolm Arnold
Symphony No 5 (1961)
- Paterson Publications (World)
Commissioned by the Cheltenham Festival Society and first performed by the Hallé Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Arnold on 3rd July 1961 at Cheltenham Town Hall (Cheltenham Festival).
- 3222/4331/timp.2perc/hp.cel/str
- see Two Symphonic Movements in Wind/Brass Ensemble/Band section
- 33 min
- 11th April 2025, Barbican Hall [Barbican Centre], London, United Kingdom
- 16th April 2025, Barbican Hall [Barbican Centre], London, United Kingdom
Programme Note
1. Tempestuoso
2. Andante con moto - Adagio
3. Con fuoco
4. Risoluto - Lento
This symphony is in four movements and is written for a normal symphony orchestra with the addition of a celesta. The four movements are divided into two pairs, the first thematically related to the third, and the second to the fourth. It will be noted that in the second movement, the composer is unable to distinguish between sentiment and sentimentality.
After the first performance of my Fourth Symphony there were so many things I felt needed to be said musically that I am more than grateful for the opportunity given me by the Cheltenham Festival Society to attempt to say these things.
© Sir Malcolm Arnold
Media
Scores
Reviews
Discography
Arnold: Symphony No. 5
- LabelAlto
- Catalogue NumberALC1424
- ConductorDouglas Bostock
- EnsembleMunich Philharmonic Orchestra / Royal Aarhus Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra
- Released2020
Arnold conducts Arnold
- LabelEMI Classics
- Catalogue Number0946 3 82146 2 5
- ConductorMalcolm Arnold
- EnsembleBournemouth Symphony Orchestra / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Philharmonia Orchestra
- Released5th February 2007

- LabelNaxos
- Catalogue Number8 552000
- ConductorAndrew Penny
- EnsembleNational Symphony Orchestra of Ireland

- LabelClassico
- Catalogue NumberCLASSCD 294
- ConductorDouglas Bostock
- EnsembleMunich Symphony Orchestra

- LabelEMI
- Catalogue NumberCDM5 66423-2
- ConductorSir Malcolm Arnold
- EnsembleCity of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

- LabelChandos
- Catalogue NumberCHAN 9385
- ConductorRichard Hickox
- EnsembleLondon Symphony Orchestra
The Complete Symphonies

- LabelConifer Records Limited
- ConductorVernon Handley
- EnsembleRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra / BBC Concert Orchestra / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra