Alwyn - Sinfonietta for Strings

The music of William Alwyn (1905-1985) has appeared here before, and this time we have his Sinfonietta For Strings dating from 1970. In his tribute to Alwyn, Hubert Culot writes about the Sinfonietta:

"Any composer less modest than Alwyn would have called it a symphony since the work, in three movements,, develops an argument as symphonic as that of his earlier symphonies. It is tightly packed, full of vigorous writing and energy, and sometimes reminding us of Honegger or Alban Berg (the slow movement, in fact, quotes from Berg's opera Lulu). The Sinfonietta bears ample proof - if such were needed - that Alwyn's music can be very personal and highly individual in the frame of its traditionalism. In spite of its diminutive title it is a powerfully impressive piece of music, composed on a full symphonic scale, and already pointing towards further developments in Alwyn's music, while marking a definite advance on the preceding works."

The British Music Society published an interview with Alwyn on his 70th birthday, which can be downloaded as a PDF. 

Cartridge: Goldring Ethos

Phono amp: Graham Slee Accession MC

Turntable: CTC Classic 301 with SME M2-12R

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