York Bowen's First Symphony

[John H White]

The BBC broadcast this work for the first time today. I found it a very creditable effort for an 18 year old. However, after the third movement, which sounded like a scherzo, I was expecting to hear a finale but, as the presenter informed us, this "scherzo" was the finale. This is rather reminiscent of William Sterndale Bennett's first piano concerto, where; at the suggestion of his teacher, Potter; the composer cut out the original finale of his 4 movement work to leave it ending with a scherzo.
  Anyway, I found the Bowen symphony a very enjoyable listen and look forward to the forthcoming CD.

[albion]

Yes, the first symphony is certainly an attractive apprentice piece with an air of much-still-to-be-done. The second is a different matter entirely - confident and expansive, it is a really lovely work which makes one regret that Bowen's purely orchestral catalogue is not larger.