Hoddinott - Symphony nr. 6; Lanterne des Morts

Another work that I was reminded of when listening to Petrassi's Secondo Concerto is Alun Hoddinott's Sixth Symphony (1984). I got to know this via a Chandos CD I added to my collection maybe 15 years ago. I relistened to this moody 20 minute-work but have to conclude that it inhabits a quite different musical universe. There is something of a neo-classical restraint and mellifluousness in the symphony, but overall it's a more romantic conception, richly harmonised in a very attractive clair-obscur. Although it features some exciting fast music, it basically comes across as a single arched adagio. It's a lovely composition which bears repeated listening, particularly on these kinds of gloomy winter days as we are currently experiencing. The disc features a number of other works, notably the symphonic poem Lanterne des Morts, op. 105, nr. 2. This is a stunningly atmospheric work that takes its cue from a monolithic stone tower in the French town of Sarlat (in the Dordogne). 'Lanterns of the dead' can be found in several places in the South-West of France. Although as a rule they are located in the immediate vicinity of a cemetery, no satisfactory explanation has been found as to their functioning. Legend has it that the souls of the deceased transmigrated out of these towers as pigeons. That is the image that Hoddinott has been able to musically evoke in a quite marvellous way. Qua atmosphere the work connects seamlessly to the symphony. The scoring is ravishing, with muted trumpets, darkly intoning trombones, glockenspiel and wind machine adding to the brooding atmosphere. There is a daring but quite successful quotation from the Romanza in Vaughan Williams' Fifth Symphony transporting us to the latter's luminous mysticism.

Hoddinott was a prolific composer who left a significant oeuvre, including 10 symphonies, 5 operas, more than 10 concertos and 10 piano sonatas. Most of it has not been recorded. Pity Chandos or Naxos have not yet picked up the gauntlet. Lyrita has a few recordings in their catalogue that are likely worthwhile to collect. To be continued.