Category Archives: Orchestral

On Armistice Day – Philip Sawyers: Remembrance for Strings

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by Ben Hogwood

To mark Armistice Day, here is a relatively recent piece of memorial from the composer Philip Sawyers (above). When writing about this work in 2022 I noted,

“A recent work, Remembrance for Strings, made an instant impact. This deeply emotive, thought provoking piece has a hint of Elgar in its profoundly elegiac tone and scoring, but unmistakably bears Sawyers’ fingerprints as the theme evolves, gradually creeping upwards. The strings of the ESO were perfectly paced by Woods, giving the theme plenty of room and bringing the important viola and cello lines through the texture. Sawyers finds effective contrasts between notable pain points of discord and an almost complete stillness as the strings collect their thoughts, holding their collective breath in ideally weighted phrasing. This deeply affecting piece deserves to be heard much further afield, its impact comparable (if notably different) to that of Barber’s Adagio for Strings. A note for Emily Davis, the ESO guest leader, who gave a touching final solo.”

Here it is, in those capable hands:

Published post no.2,715 – Tuesday 11 November 2025

On this day – the first performance of Brahms’ Piano Concerto no.2

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by Ben Hogwood

On this day in 1881, Johannes Brahms took to the stage to play in the world premiere of his Piano Concerto no.2 in B flat major, Op.83, with Alexander Erkel conducting the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra.

The concerto is one of the biggest in the repertoire. Set in four movements and lasting well over 40 minutes, it is more symphonic in structure, with demands of stamina and technique for the soloist that complement the more tempestuous Piano Concerto no.1.

The Second is a more obviously graceful work, from the lilting horn theme at the start to its elegant slow movement, where a solo cello plays a particularly beautiful melody. There are moments of grandeur – especially in the first two movements – while the finale is a dance, light on its feet and brimming with good spirits.

You can listen to a performance below from Yefim Bronfman, with Sir Antonio Pappano conducting the Verbier Festival Orchestra:

Published post no.2,713 – Sunday 9 November 2025

On this day – the first performance of Philip Glass: Symphony no.8

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by Ben Hogwood Photo of Glass by WNYC New York Public Radio, used from Wikipedia

On this day in 2005, the world premiere of the Symphony no.8 by Philip Glass took place. Generally the symphony has not been a form to fire the imagination of minimalist composers – Steve Reich, for instance, has not written one – but Glass has found a way of integrating symphonic thought and form with subtly repetitive figures.

The Eighth is a more exploratory, chromatic work in three movements, a substantial piece lasting nearly 40 minutes. Here it is with the performers from the premiere, the Bruckner Orchestra Linz conducted by Dennis Russell Davies:

https://open.spotify.com/album/4JXQOm6Imw93JBOsDn48X2

Published post no.2,706 – Sunday 2 November 2025

For a new month – Bax: November Woods

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by Ben Hogwood

To mark the 1st of November, here is the highly atmospheric tone poem that Sir Arnold Bax completed in 1917. November Woods is one of his most effective works, though in spite of its evocative title Bax said it “may be taken as an impression of the dank and stormy music of nature in the late autumn, but the whole piece and its origins are connected with certain rather troubled experiences I was going through myself at the time….”

You can enjoy it below in a performance with the Ulster Orchestra conducted by Bax specialist, the late Vernon Handley:

Published post no.2,705 – Saturday 1 November 2025

On this day – the first performance of Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no.1

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by Ben Hogwood

Today marks 70 years since the first performance of a Shostakovich masterpiece. The Violin Concerto no.1 in A minor Op.77/99 received its premiere at the hands of its dedicatee, David Oistrakh, with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky.

Here it is from one of its most passionate recent exponents, Maxim Vengerov taking the solo part with the Novosibirsk State Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Thomas Sanderling:

Published post no.2,702 – Wednesday 29 October 2025