LETTER of the MONTH

Last call for Arnold

ollowing the reaction to demands to reform parts of theby Malcolm Arnold, commissioned for the Last Night in 1970 – even 50 years ago, it was felt that there was a case for some flexibility in the traditional second half. This ingenious work consists of a medley of ‘We Shall Not Be Moved’, ‘The Sailor’s Hornpipe’ – but with a different rhythm to the Henry Wood version to confuse the clapping of the audience – and ‘Rule, Britannia!’, each made all the more entertaining with Arnold’s brilliant orchestration. He possessed a great facility to compose in a variety of musical styles from the most profound right through to music with instant mass appeal. As it his centenary next year, it would be wonderful to feature this aspect of his genius in the Last Night.