(Photo: courtesy Malcolm Arnold Estate)
See also “Malcolm Arnold – An Article by Phillip Hunt”
See also “Malcolm Arnold – A Trunute by Tony Mansell”
Some of Sir Malcolm Arnold’s Music
Titles in blue are links to specific pages
A Grand,Grand Overture – Opus 57 (1956)
(For orchestra)
Written for the Gerald Hoffnung Music Festival
For three vacuum cleaners, an electric polisher and four rifles.
1956: First performed by Morley College Symphony Orchestra with Denis Brain under Malcolm Arnold at the Royal Festival Hall, London
1983: Arranged for symphonic band by Keith Wilson – Opus 57a
1988: Arranged for brass band by David Richards
Arranged for brass band by Andrew Duncan.
Duration: 8 minutes
Publisher: Paterson
A Hoffnung Fanfare (1960)
(For brass and percussion – 36 trumpets in groups of 6)
Written for the Hoffnung Memorial Concert
1981: Arranged by James Olcott for 12 trumpets
1960: First performed by trunpeters of the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, at the Royal Festival Hall, London
Duration: 2 minutes
Publisher: Triplo Press
Allegretto and Vivace for Concert Band
(For orchestra)
2001: Arranged as Allegretto and Vivace for Concert Band by Peter Parkes from movements 1 & 2 of Symphone No. 2 – Opus 40 (1953)
Duration: 11 minutes
Publisher: Novello
A Salute to Thomas Merritt – Opus 98 (1967)
Awake with Joy, salute the Morn …
(Cornish Carol by Thomas Merritt)
1968: Arranged for brass band by Malcolm Arnold for the 60th anniversary of the death of Cornish composer, Thomas Merritt
1968: First performed at the concert in Truro Cathedral to mark the 60th anniversary of the death of Cornish composer Thomas Merrittt. It was performed by te Chorus od mixed choirs, Penzance Orchestral Society, Cornwall Symphony Orchestra, St Dennis Silver Band and St Agnes Silver Band conducted by Sir Malcolm Arnold
Brass Quintet No 2 – Opus 132 (1987)
(Brass quintet)
Duration: 8 minutes
Publisher: Faber
Coronation March (1901)
English Dances Set I (1950)
1965: Arranged for wind band by Maurice Johnstone
1985: Arranged for brass band by Ray Farr
Duration: 8 minutes
Publisher: Lengnick
English Dances Set II (1951)
1980: Arranged for wind band by Nigel Herbert
1985: Arranged for brass band by Ray Farr
Duration: 9 minutes
Publisher: Lengnick
Fanfare for a Festival (1955)
(For brass ensemble)
1986: Arranged for brass band by Philip Sparke
Duration: 2 minutes
Publisher: Studio Music
Fantasy for Brass Band – Opus 114a (1973)
Fantasy for Trumpet – Opus 100
Festival Fanfare (1969)
Duration: 1.45 minutes
Publisher: Queen’s Temple Publications
Flourish for a Birthday – Opus 44 (1953)
(For brass ensemble)
1987: Arranged for brass band by Philip Sparke from Flourish for a 21st Birthday
2000: Arranged for wind band by Michael McDermott from Flourish for a 21st Birthday
Duration: 3 minutes
Publisher: Studio Music
Four Cornish Dances – Opus 91 (1966)
(For orchestra)
1968: Arranged for wind band by Thad Marciniak
1985: Arranged for brass band by Ray Farr
1995: Arranged for wind, percussion and harp by Ruth Thorpe
Duration: 10 minutes
Publisher: Faber
Malcolm Arnold considered the Cornish people to have a highly developed sense of humour. He said, “It [Cornwall] is a land of male voice choirs, brass bands, Methodism, May Days, and Moody and Sankey hymns. The Cornish, despite, or even because of, their great sense of independence have been ruthlessly exploited. The deserted engine houses of the tin and copper mines bear silent witness to this, and these ruins radiate a strange and sad beauty. I hope some of these things are present in this music, which is Cornish through the eyes of a ‘furrener’.”
Four Fanfares (1956-75)
1956: Fanfare for a Royal Occasion
1957: Richmond Fanfare
1959: Kingston Fanfare
1975: Railway Fanfare
Duration: 30 seconds to 1 minute each
Publisher: Studio Music
Four Scottish Dances – Opus 59 (1957)
(For orchestra)
Arranged for wind band by John Paynter
1985: Arranged for brass band by Ray Farr – Opus 59a
Duration: 9 minutes
Publisher: Studio Music
Galop from Little Suite Brass Band No 2 – Opus 93 (1967)
(For brass band)
Duration: 2 minutes
Publisher: Studio Music
HRH The Duke of Cambridge – Opus 60 (1957)
(March for military band)
Written for the centenary of the Royal Military School of Music
2000: Arranged for orchestra by Philip Lane – Opus 60a
Duration: 4 minutes
Publisher: Paterson/Carl Fischer
Hobson’s Brass (1953)
1996: Arranged for brass band by Peter Graham, Derek Scott and Robin Dewhurst from the film Hobson’s Choice
Duration: 17 minutes
Publisher: Faber Music
Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958)
(Film music)
Selection from the film of the same name
1996: Arranged for wind band by Munetoshi Senoo
Arranged for brass band by Edrich Siebert
Duration: 6 minutes
Publisher: Studio Music
Little Suite No. 2 – Opus 78 (1963)
(For orchestra)
Written for the Farnham Festival
In three movements: Overture, Ballad, Dance
1963: First performed at the Farnham Festival
2000: Arranged for wind band by Denis Bloodworth from Little Suite for Orchestra No. 2
2000: Arranged for brass band by Bram Gay from Little Suite for Orchestra No. 2 – Opus 78a
Duration: 10 minutes
Publisher: Paterson
Little Suite No 1 for Brass Band – Opus 80 (1963)
(For brass band)
Commissioned in 1963 by the Scottish Amateur Music Association for the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland
In three movements: Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo
1964: Arranged for wind band by John Paynter
Duration: 10 minutes
1963: The first performance was at Aberdeen High School for Girls by the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland conducted by Bryden Thomson
Publisher: Studio Music
Used as a contest test piece including:
1975: Cornwall Brass Band Association Contest (Youth Section)
1995: Regional Championships of Great Britain (Fourth Section)
2014: West of England Bandsmen’s Festival (Class E)
Little Suite No 2 for Brass Band – Opus 93 (1967)
Little Suite No 3 for Brass Band – Opus 131 (1987)
(For brass band)
In three movements: Giubiloso, Allegretto and Vivace.
Duration: 10 minutes
Publisher: Studio Music
March From Little Suite No. 1 – Opus 53 (1955)
(For orchestra)
In three movements: Prelude, Dance, March
1965: Arranged for military band by by Peter Sumner
Duration: 3 minutes
Publisher: Novello/Paterson
Overseas – Opus 70 (1960)
(March for military band)
1960: Commissioned by the Central Office of information for the British Trade Fair, New York
Duration: 3 minutes
Publisher: Novello/Paterson
Peterloo – Opus 97 (1967)
(Overture for orchestra)
Commissioned by the Trades Union Congress for the 100th anniversary of its first meeting in 1868
1979: Arranged for wind band by Charles Sayre
2002: Arranged for brass band by Andrew Duncan
Duration: 10 minutes
Publisher: Faber
Quintet for Brass – Opus 73 (1961)
(For two trumpets, French horn, trombone and tuba)
Written for the New York Brass Quintet
In three movements: Allegro Vivace, Chaconne, Con brio
Duration: 13 minutes
Publisher: Novello/Paterson
Send Out The Light
(Cornish Carol by Thomas Merritt)
1968: Arranged for brass band by Malcolm Arnold for the 60th anniversary of the death of Cornish composer, Thomas Merritt
1968: First performed at the concert in Truro Cathedral to mark the 60th anniversary of the death of Cornish composer Thomas Merrittt. It was performed by te Chorus od mixed choirs, Penzance Orchestral Society, Cornwall Symphony Orchestra, St Dennis Silver Band and St Agnes Silver Band conducted by Sir Malcolm Arnold
Song of Freedom – Opus 109 (1972)
(For chorus and brass band)
Commissioned by the National School Brass Band Association to commemorate the Association’s 21st Anniversary.
In four movements: Prelude, Hymn, Intermezzo and Postlude.
Duration: 19 minutes
Publisher: Studio Music
1973: The first public performance was at the Harlow Sportscentre by the Netteswell School Band and Choir, conducted by Sir Malcolm Arnold.
Sweeney Todd Suite – Opus 68 (1959)
(Concert suite for orchestra)
2006: Arranged for brass band
Duration: 8 minutes
Publisher: Faber
Symphony for Brass – Opus 123 (1978)
(For brass ensemble of 10 players)
For Philip Jones on his 50th birthday
In four short movements
1979: First performance at the Cheltenham Festival by the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble conducted by Howard Snell
Duration: 14 minutes
Publisher: Faber
Tam O’Shanter – Opus 51 (1955)
(Overture for orchestra)
1991: Arranged for wind band by John Paynter
2001: Arranged for brass band by Howard Snell – Opus 51a
Duration: 7 minutes
Publisher: Studio Music
The Forces Fanfare (1991)
(For brass & percussion)
Duration: 3 minutes
Publisher: Faber Music
The Padstow Lifeboat – Opus 94 (1967)
The River Kwai March
Three Shanties for Wind Quintet – Opus 4 (1943)
(Brass Quintet)
In three movements
Arranged by Denis Wick
Duration 7 minutes
Publisher: Novello