This varied selection of tuneful but largely unfamiliar orchestral music by Cecil Armstrong Gibbs includes the delightful suite from his collaboration with Walter de la Mare, the “fairy play” Crossings. Gibbs’s music is very much an escapist art, full of charming tunes – as exemplified by The Enchanted Wood, which the composer described as “a dance phantasy,” and the full orchestral version of his most popular work, the haunting slow waltz Dusk. In a similar light music vein are the attractive The Cat and the Wedding Cake (from the television operetta Mr. Cornelius) and Four Orchestral Dances, written for a BBC Light Music Festival. In contrast are the Symphonic poem A Vision of Night, which reflects Gibbs’s enthusiasm for the new music at the Diaghilev ballet, and the neo-classical Suite in A for violin and orchestra.

Symphony no.2 op.17 (1976-79)
(i) Lento e calmo
(ii) Allegro energico
(iii) Pi mosso
(iv) Presto veloce

Symphony no.6 op.100 (2003-07)
(i) Flowing
(ii) Scherzo: Vivacissimo
(iii) Molto moderato Adagio

BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Jac Van Steen (conductor)

World premiere recordings

Recorded at BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Bay, 12-14 February 2009

CDLX 7234

“You can’t stop David Matthews writing symphonies ... and please don’t try. Both ... here ... reveal his lively Englishness and bright ear for colour.” “Jac van Steen and the BBC NO of Wales give persuasive performances.” GB, The Times, March 2010

“The British symphonic tradition is shown to be alive as two substantial works receive a polished recording.” BBC Music Magazine Awards 2011 Winner – Jury Award: Premiere Recording