The Malcolm Arnold Society
Promoting the music of one of Britain's greatest composers
The Malcolm Arnold Society

Beckus newsletter

Each issue of our newsletter has regular features such as a Performance Diary, Letters page and Archive Section. For a free PDF preview (Issue 102) click here.

All back issues of the Beckus newsletter are now available in PDF format on CD. Price: £15.00 To order please contact Terry Cushion.

Current Issue:

Issue 119 Winter 2020:

Issue 118 Autumn 2020:

  • 15th International Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • Society get-together
  • The Fourth Symphony revisited by Piers Burton-Page
  • An encourager of young musicians by John Pearn
  • Ann Pinhey remembers Malcolm Arnold
  • London Baroque Ensemble 1948
  • Horn Concerto No.2: How the manuscript got to the USA
  • The film music: looking for Vol.3
  • The choral music: CD required! / List of choral works
  • The Colonel Bogey saga
  • Film and TV trivia
  • Music for Candlemas Night
  • Performances in lockdown

Issue 117 Summer 2020:

  • Three Fifths in February
  • New CD: Flute Concerto No 1
  • New CD: Organ Concerto
  • Obituary: Bram Gay
  • Barry Tuckwell
  • Book Review: The Trianon Enigma
  • Book Review: The Pie at Night
  • Arnold Performances by Trianon Music Group
  • From the archives:
  • Concert reviews from 1947 – 1973


Issue 116 Spring 2020:

  • Piers Burton-Page becomes Hon President
  • 2020 and 2021: Beethoven and Arnold by Piers Burton-Page
  • Eton College Malcolm Arnold competition
  • At last, the Toy Symphony!
  • In memoriam: Stewart Craggs & Alastair Mitchell
  • Alexander McCall Smith chooses Arnold
  • An evening with Malcolm in the Gower Peninsula
  • News from Isaac Adni
  • Arnold in Delaware and Maryland
  • Concert reviews:
  • Hallé Orchestra, LSE Orchestra and Onyx Brass
  • People and Protest: Blackpool Symphony Orchestra
  • Recent publications from Queen’s Temple Publications
  • Grace Notes for a Year
  • Financial statement 2019
  • The search for the missing scores, Part 2
  • From the Archives: premières and early performances (Part 2 of 2)

Issue 115 Winter 2019:

  • Much to enjoy at the 14th Arnold Festival
  • Keith Llewellyn, R.I.P.
  • Barry Wordsworth guest at Society dinner
  • Come play and sing Peterloo choral
  • John Gibbons becomes Patron of the Society
  • First recording of the Toy Symphony
  • New CD of the complete piano works
  • Savile Club CD
  • The Accordion Concerto that never was
  • From the Archives: premières and early performances (Part 1 of 2)

Issue 114 Autumn 2019:

  • Flute Concerto no.1 – Hitchin Chamber Orchestra
  • Cornish Dances, St Kea Church
  • Double Violin Concerto – Orchestra of the Swan
  • 14. Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • Festival and Society arrangements
  • Malcolm Arnold Society Scholarship
  • Judith Bailey and Malcolm Arnold
  • The other Malcolm Arnold
  • Battle of Britain: New evidence in the autograph manuscripts
  • Battle of Britain: letters from Walton
  • 1969: A busy year for Malcolm
  • Reel Streets, Part 2
  • Whistle Down the Wind: on location in Downham
  • Performance diary

Issue 113 Summer 2019:

Issue 112 Spring 2019:

  • Second Eton College Malcolm Arnold competition
  • Five Pieces for violin and piano in Italy
  • Double Violin Concertos in Ealing & Faversham
  • Oboe Concerto in Suffolk & English Dances in Norfolk
  • Symphony for Strings in Greenwich – St Paul’s Sinfonia
  • Our Classical Century: The Bridge on the River Kwai
  • Hobson’s Choice – Music From the Motion Pictures
  • The return of The Three Musketeers
  • Lot 86 – A postscript to the Norwich auction of ‘The Sir Malcolm Arnold Collection’
  • The ‘Inn of the Sixth Happiness’ plaque in North Wales
  • The significance of Malcolm Arnold by David Mellor and Robert Matthew-Walker
  • Book Review: The Classical Music Map of Britain
  • Society accounts and subscription information
  • From the archives
  • Performance diary


Issue 111 Winter 2018:

  • 13th Arnold Festival: a triumph over adversity
  • Society Dinner
  • Annetta Hoffnung, R.I.P.
  • Prize competition
  • BBC to open up classical music archive
  • Stokowski recording of Beckus the Dandipratt
  • The musical grandfather: A William Hawes postscript
  • The Auction in retrospect
  • Armando Iannucci reflects on the death of Malcolm Arnold
  • Concert review: Hitchin Symphony Orchestra
  • Five Year Society Review
  • Badger’s Green: Arnold’s first film score
  • New subscription rates from 1 January 2019
  • Performance Diary


Issue 110 Autumn 2018:

  • Tavistock Festival
  • Sean Shibe wins RPS music award
  • Ruth Gipps Variations – Vanbrugh Ensemble
  • Arnold on Sounds of Brass
  • Grand Grand Overture at Brighton Festival
  • Charles “Charlie” Gregory, horn player
  • Arnold’s whistlers
  • From the archives: Commonwealth Christmas Overture, etc
  • Concert Piece for Percussion / Evelyn Glennie
  • Arnold the conductor: a remarkable decade 1963-72
  • Festival and Society events 12-14 October 2018

Issue 109 Summer 2018:

  • Brighton Philharmonic concert
  • A new Patron
  • Eton Essay Prize winners
  • Tavistock Festival
  • The Eton Collection
  • New CD of fanfares
  • Fantasy for Cello: an analysis by Julian Lloyd Webber
  • A gesture of friendship
  • Malcolm Arnold and Bruce Montgomery
  • Salute to Thomas Merritt op.98
  • Arnold and Britten from Zeeland
  • Kensington Gardens
  • The Fair County of Ayr
  • Three Shanties arranged for octet

Issue 108 Spring 2018:

  • Eton College Malcolm Arnold Competition
  • Heatwave: Music for flute, oboe, and piano
  • A heatwave in December
  • Isabelle Marchewka: Solo harp works
  • The Gramophone’s Top 10 English composers
  • Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Martin Ellerby
  • The Three Musketeers on tour in Autumn 2018
  • Rick Stein
  • Neil Richmond: transcribing Arnold’s works
  • Water Music: a South East discovery
  • More praise for Sean Shibe
  • Phillip Dyson: Malcolm’s piano music
  • Society Accounts and subscription information
  • Sponsorship
  • Book review
  • The Richmond Ballet perform ‘Journey’

Issue 107 Winter 2017:

  • 12th Arnold Festival: a feast of delights
  • Society Dinner
  • New CD of Arnold Songs
  • Our new website!
  • Donald Mitchell (1925 – 2017)
  • Fantasy for Guitar / Acclaim for Sean Shibe
  • Fantasy for Double Bass
  • Arnold at Eton: a student’s view
  • Eton Essay Prize 2017
  • News from Bel Air
  • The search for the missing scores
  • More cuttings from the pas

Issue 106 Autumn 2017

  • Exhibition at Eton College
  • The Tempest at Eton
  • Statue of Malcolm Arnold unveiled at Northampton Guildhall
  • Rinaldo and Armida in Westminster
  • Exhibition of Marialuisa Marino’s art in Nottingham
  • Alan Moore’s Jerusalem
  • Malcolm Arnold Festival 2017 – A welcome by Paul Harris
  • Festival arrangements for society members
  • Reviving ‘Parasol’ by Ian Hÿtch
  • A Pride of Parasols
  • The Organ Concerto in America
  • Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra
  • Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra
  • More newspaper cuttings from the past

Issue 105 Summer 2017Beckus105

  • St Paul’s Sinfonia – Viola concerto
  • Auction in Norwich
  • Goldsmith Sinfonia – Symphony No 5
  • Sinfonia Tamesa – Symphony No 7
  • New kid on the block, part 3
  • More on ‘Parasol’
  • A-Z of Northampton by Anthony Meredith – review
  • Bronwen Jones: pianist in Stolen Face
  • Clarinet Concerto and sonatina
  • More newspaper cuttings from the past
  • Malcolm Arnold: a birthday tribute by Humphrey Searle

Issue 104 Spring 2017Beckus104

  • Essex Symphony Orchestra
  • Sale of items from Sir Malcolm’s estate
  • News from Maryland
  • The nine Symphonies in concert
  • New kid on the block, part 2
  • Parasol, Malcolm’s only musical
  • Fantasy for audience and orchestra
  • New publications

Issue 103 Winter 2016beckus103-cover

  • 11th Malcolm Arnold Festival: Another Winner!
  • Nigel Hess’s Launch address
  • Society Dinner Oct 15th
  • Complete brass music CD
  • New Kid on the block, part 1
  • Watching the flames together RVW and MA
  • Malcolm Arnold and Thomas Merritt
  • Black Mark for putting a tune into a Symphony

Issue 102 Autumn 2016 – free preview!beckus102-cover

  • ‘The voice of the people’: 11th Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • CD British Serenade: Solos with String Orchestra
  • Devils, donkeys, and dinosaurs: The influence of Gordon Jacob on the young Malcolm Arnold
  • Solitaire: sixty years on
  • Generation Y in Oldenburg
  • An Arnold mystery island?
  • Music making and manuscripts

Issue 101 Summer 2016

  • Malcolm Arnold Fantasies Competition
  • Hunt the chaconne!
  • Works for soloist and strings
  • Malcolm Arnold’s chamber music
  • Playing Malcolm’s clarinet works
  • Up at the Villa
  • The Arnold-Bournemouth connection
  • The Eton Arnold project

Issue 100 Spring 2016

  • London concert to launch new Arnold recordings
  • Arnold events in Cornwall
  • Malcolm Arnold and Ruth Gipps
  • Avalanche Patrol
  • Reconstructing Arnold’s Film Scores – Philip Lane
  • 150 Arnold symphony performances
  • Complete Brass works to be recorded

Issue 99 Winter 2015

  • The Tenth Arnold Festival – the best yet!
  • The Society Dinner
  • New recording of the Oboe Quartet
  • The Arnold-Bournemouth Connection
  • Alf Arnold: The Black Sheep of the family?
  • Arnold Films on DVD

Issue 98 Autumn 2015

  • Society helps fund Arnold CD release
  • Welcome to the 10th Arnold Festival
  • Quiz
  • Scottish Dances in Maryland
  • Three’s company – the Synfoniettas
  • Peter Pan
  • Arnold by arrangement

Issue 97 Summer 2015

  • Sonata for strings – first recording
  • The Dancing Master from the Guildhall School of Music
  • Was the muse really missing? Tony Meredith responds to the suggestion
    in the last issue that the Concerto for 28 Players is a neglected gem.
  • Maryland Band Directors Band play Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo
  • Malcolm Arnold at 60 by Hugo Cole reprinted from MusicAnd Musicians 1981
  • Music from the Films A discussion between Muir Mathieson and Malcolm Arnold
  • Northampton Mercury archives
  • The Sunshine Matinees by Alan Poulton
  • The BBC Genome project – online access to The Radio Times from 1923 onwards

Issue 96 Spring 2015

  • New recording of the Seventh Symphony
  • New Michala Petri CD
  • John Kuchmy – a man of many parts
  • An individual voice – This appreciation of Malcolm Arnold at the age of 60, written by Piers Burton-Page in 1981, has not previously been published

Issue 95 Winter 2014

  • Why we all love him so much
  • A kaleidoscopic imagination – the 9th Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • On and Off the record – John Kehoe talks about his work at Conifer
  • The elusive Serenade for guitar and strings
  • Flowers of the Forest – a ballet revival in Birmingham
  • The Three Musketeers in Canada
  • A new Arnold dance work: Suite Bourgeoise

Issue 94 Autumn 2014

  • Ninth Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • Conducting an interview with our new patrons – John Wilson and Keith Lockhart
  • Padstow unveiling: a wonderful day
  • Old friends and memories – Padstow pays tribute to composer who took Cornwall to his heart
  • ‘Scratch’ choir premieres The Shipwright’s Song
  • Philip Pfaff: The forgotten organist of St Matthew’s Church
  • The Ipswich Festival Overture
  • Malcolm Arnold at 70

Issue 93 Summer 2014

  • Padstow unveiling honours Sir Malcolm
  • Keith Lockhart our new patron
  • Third Light – Simon Parker writes about his new play, which includes the Four Cornish Dances
  • Malcolm Arnold: the conductor remembered
  • The mystery of the Fourth Symphony
  • The Malcolm Arnold Trust

Issue 92 Spring 2014

  • From the new Chairman Alan Poulton
  • Plaque unveiling at Padstow
  • Songs from the Films
  • 5th symphony in Bel Air
  • A concerto rediscovered: Cello Concerto
  • Malcolm Arnold at Home

Issue 91 Winter 2013

  • Welcome to John Wilson as new Patron
  • Festival Dinner
  • Eighth Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • Personal reflections on No 8 – P Harris
  • The Padstow Lifeboat Op 94
  • Some memories of Malcolm Arnold in Cornwall

Issue 90 Autumn 2013

  • The Malcolm Arnold Society Festival Dinner
  • Paul Harris introduces the 8th Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • ‘The Padstow Lifeboat’ Part 3

Issue 89 Summer 2013

  • Eighth Malcolm Arnold Festival – highlights to come in 19-20 October
  • Dorothy Morris obit
  • The Padstow Lifeboat
  • Special offer from Faber

Issue 88 Spring 2013

  • Malcolm Arnold Trumpet Competition
  • Plaque for Padstow
  • Sir Malcolm Arnold’s ‘The Padstow Lifeboat’ Op. 94

Issue 87 Winter 2012

  • Obituary for John Gould
  • Report on the Seventh Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • Arnold’s Richmond played a the Olympics

Issue 86 Autumn 2012

  • Paul Harris speaks to Geoffrey Brand
  • Arnold, Bliss, Berners and Lambert
  • How does Malcolm Arnold rank alongside other great 20th century English composers? 5/5
  • The Malcolm Arnold Festival, Northampton 21-22 October
  • A night at the ballet. Suites from Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker and three Arnold Ballet scores

Issue 85 Summer 2012

  • The Dancing Master – highlight of the Festival
  • Thames Diamond Jubilee River Pageant June 3rd includes the Padstow Lifeboat march.
  • Projects to celebrate the life of Sir Malcolm
  • Havant Symphony Orchestra – the fourth symphony
  • A New Arnold Ballet

Issue 84 Spring 2012

  • Seventh Malcolm Arnold Festival 20-21 October 2012 – message from Paul Harris
  • Society News
  • Sixth Malcolm Arnold Festival report by Edward Clark
  • How does Malcolm Arnold rank alongside other great 20th century English composers? Part 4/5 Rebecca Steven
  • Arnold’s First Symphony: Keith Lockhart conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Issue 83 Winter 2011

  • An offer we can’t refuse
  • Celebrations in brass (and wine and cake)
  • The 9 symphonies at the Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • The dilemma of the Ninth
  • How does Malcolm Arnold rank alongside other great 20th century English composers? 3/5

Issue 82 Autumn 2011

  • Sir Malcolm Arnold’s 90th anniversary – message from Paul Harris
  • Celebration in Brass
  • Malcolm Arnold on Desert Island Discs
  • A Malcolm Arnold Journal?
  • How does Malcolm Arnold rank alongside other great 20th century English composers? 2/5

Issue 81 Summer 2011

  • Sir Malcolm Arnold’s 90th anniversary
  • Festival Schedule
  • Celebration in Brass
  • How does Malcolm Arnold rank alongside other great 20th century English composers? 1/5
  • The Purple Dust saga

Issue 80 Spring 2011

  • The Arnold Cello Concerto in Concert
  • Where are the Great British Symphonies
  • The making of a musician

Issue 79 winter 2010

  • Hayley Mills at opening 5th Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • Society ‘Get Together’
  • A Grand, Grand Event
  • Festival Gallery
  • Homage to the Queen

Issue 78 Autumn 2010

  • Cello Concerto recording in preparation (Naxos)
  • A breath of fresh air for the Malcolm Arnold Festival 2010
  • Malcolm Arnold at the Proms (1952 onwards)
  • Whoops! (Richard Attenborough)

Issue 77 Summer 2010

  • Malcolm Arnold Festival 2010
  • First Society ‘Get Together’
  • Festival News from Paul Harris
  • Planning pays off for young performers
  • The Persuasive Pamela (Watson)

Issue 76 Spring 2010

  • Sir Malcolm’s piano donated to Attleborough High school
  • 2010 Festival News
  • The Symphonies on Record
  • Views sought: Should the Society be run by a committee

Issue 75 Winter 2009

  • An embarrassment of riches – three Festivals
  • Fourth Malcom Arnold Festival
  • Peterloo Prize Winner – Sarah Git; Beckus Joint Prize winners – Jude Carlton, Toby Young
  • The Fourth Symphony in concert
  • Padstow Arts Festival

Issue 74 Autumn 2009

  • Sheila Arnold 16 September 1919 – 25 June 2009
  • The Fourth Symphony discussed by John Gibbons
  • Devils, Donkeys and Dinosaurs – the influence of Gordon Jacob on Arnold
  • The first Padstow Arts Festival

Issue 73 Summer 2009

  • The Fourth Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • Sir Malcolm Arnold’s Third Symphony in concert – Dr Howard Sowerby
  • Visit to Tallinn for The Three Musketeers

Issue 72 Spring 2009

  • In Memoriam Richard Hickox
  • From the Archives: Malcolm Arnold at Home (Oct 1969)
  • The Road to Badger’s Green
  • Moritz Ernst plays Malcolm Arnold

Issue 71 Winter 2008

  • The Third Malcolm Arnold Festival – Tony Meredith reflects
  • A window opens – opera
  • The Power of the Press

Issue 70 Autumn 2008

  • Festival Update
  • A conductor’s view – Benjamin Ellin
  • Well Hung – a new portrait of Sir Malcolm
  • Slaithwaite Philharmonic performs 3rd symphony April 2009

Issue 69 Summer 2008

  • Malcolm Arnold Festival 2008
  • The Malcolm Arnold Bronze
  • Roy Noakes 1936-2002
  • “It’s a hotel, Jim, but not as we know it!”

Issue 68 Spring 2008

  • Sir Malcolm Arnold and Russia
  • The Three Musketeers – Olivier Award
  • The Dancing Master
  • Malcolm Arnold on YouTube

Issue 66 Autumn 2007

  • Update Second Arnold Festival Oct 6-7 2007
  • Eric Dickinson (d. June 2007)
  • Arnold on DVD – recent releases
  • Malcolm Arnold on Composition

Issue 65 Summer 2007

  • Second Malcolm Arnold Festival Oct 6-7 2007
  • The Grieg Society Arnold celebration
  • Arnold on CD – recent releases
  • The Sea Creature – Malcolm Arnold remembered Gerard Hoffnung (c 1960)
  • Moritz Ernst

Issue 64 Spring 2007

  • Memories of Malcolm
  • Society members pay their tributes
  • A 16 Hour Orgy David Elliott, the producer, explains
  • Musicians’ Book of Remembrance
  • Stan Hibbert – Obituary

Issue 63 Winter 2006

  • Sir Malcolm Arnold CBE 1921-2006 – obituaries
  • The Malcolm Arnold Festival 2006

Issue 62 Summer 2006

  • Honory Doctorate for Sir Malcolm (University of Northampton)
  • Box of Delights ( The Conifer recordings are being reissued)
  • The Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • Fine Arts Brass update

Issue 61 Summer 2006

  • The New Arnold double CD project
  • The return of Odysseus
  • The Cowbell Symphony
  • The Three Musketeers

Issue 60 Spring 2006

  • The Malcolm Arnold Festival
  • Continental Arnold
  • Komponisten uden sidestykke (Composer without equal)

Issue 59 Winter 2005

  • The Seventh Symphony – Live! (in March 2006)
  • New Arnold Thematic Catalogue – Alan Poulton – work in progress
  • Malcolm Arnold in Cornwall
  • Malcolm Arnold on DVD

Issue 58 Autumn 2005

  • Glorious 12th Distinguished Musician Award for Sir Malcolm
  • Suite Success – Intriplicate perform Suite Bourgeoise
  • The Turtle Drum – A Child’s View
  • The Complete Brass Chamber Music of Sir Malcolm Arnold to go ahead.

Issue 57 Summer 2005

  • The Malcom Arnold Festival
  • Fiona Southey is new manager for Sir Malcolm
  • Malcolm Arnold House- Northampton for the care of children – further detail
  • Sir Malcom Arnold CBE – Patron and Friend – Tony Cleary

Issue 56 Spring 2005

  • The Incorporated Society of Musicians offer Sir Malcolm the Distinguished Musician Award for 2004
  • A Truly Great Man – Irene Lynch recalls a beautiful friendship
  • Toward the Unknown Region: A film by Tony Palmer reviewed by Piers Burton-Page
  • Malcolm Arnold House- Northampton for the care of children

Issue 55 Winter 2004

  • Arnold Renascent? A personal view of the Study Day by John Pearce
  • Malcolm Arnold – Rogue Genius : review by Philip Wood
  • 24-9-04 – LPO/Vernon Handley review by Günther Kögebehn
  • The Film – readers views
  • Sir Malcolm Arnold’s String Quartet in performance and on tour by David Angel

Issue 54 Autumn 2004

  • The Concert and Film September 24th 2004
  • Alla Marcia: Arnold and the Quickstep
  • The Battle of Britain – A Film Score Odyssey
  • DVD update

Issue 53 Summer 2004

  • First Person Singular – Julian Lloyd Webber
  • The New Biography by Anthony Meredith and Paul Harris
  • Celebration Concert to launch the New Biography
  • Arnold does Southend

Issue 52 Spring 2004

  • The Arnold Ensemble
  • Celebration: Malcolm and Anthony are reunited
  • Sixty Years Tacet – the recently discovered Wind Quintet
  • Writing Music for Films (Dr Malcolm Arnold – 1970)
  • Society Polo Shirts

Issue 51 Winter 2003

  • Editorial – Heartbreak
  • Sir Malcolm receives Honorary Doctorate
  • In His Own Words
  • Documentaries at the Imperial War Museum
  • A Song of Accounting Periods

Issue 50 Autumn 2003

  • Sir Malcolm recovering from a chest infection.
  • A new file about Sir Malcolm will open the 2004 season of the South Bank Show
  • During October the Imperial War Museum will be showing a series of Documentaries with music by Arnold to coindide with his 82nd birthday
  • The premiere of the revised Cello Concerto

Issue 49 Summer 2003

  • The Malcolm Arnold Society is delighted to welcome Richard Hickox CBE as its new Patron
  • Surprised by Beauty. Arnold features in a book by Robert R Reilly
  • A Tale of Two Ditties. Tracking down the Robert Burns tune in the second Scottish Dance
  • A Day with Sir Malcolm Arnold by Edward W Clark
  • Sir Malcolm in Texas for the Arnold Texas Fiesta

Issue 48 Spring 2003

  • The death of Lady Hilary Groves.
  • Lost and Found- The remarkable story of Malcolm Arnold’s Wind Quintet Paul Harris
  • An Ebullient Young Man a personal recollection by Arthur Butterworth MBE
  • A Welcome Addition – review of Paul Jackson’s new biography “The Brilliant and the Dark” By Phillip Wood
  • Sir Malcom Arnold in San Antonio A Musical Fiesta
  • Investigating Arnold’s songs and arias.

Issue 47 Winter 2002

  • The Hunt for Purple Dust by Alan Poulton – the hunt for missing scores
  • Sorry Vaughan Williams, Sorry all the Rest – the scarcity of performances of British Music
  • Fantasy on a Theme of John Field (1975) Opus 116 – extract from Paul Jackson’s new biography “The Brilliant and the Dark”
  • Just listen to the Bloody Music Sir Malcolm and Paul Serotsky

Issue 46 Autumn 2002

  • Fanfare for a Royal Occasion
  • A Grand Grand Composer: Bill Newman chats with Sir Malcolm 1994
  • Arnold In Germany ….
  • …. and in Harrogate

Issue 45 Summer 2002

  • Hazard Chase to promote the music of Sir Malcolm Arnold
  • The Brilliant and the Dark: A further extract from Paul Jackson’s book on Sir Malcolm
  • The best clarinettist in the World
  • An offer you can’t refuse

Issue 44 Spring 2002

  • The Brilliant and the Dark: Extract from Paul Jackson’s book on Sir Malcolm
  • Discography Supplement March 2002
  • Two World Premieres
  • Archive: Tunes Foremost: Lyndon Jenkins questions the composer

Issue 43 Winter 2001

  • Brillante – The 80th Birthday Celebrations
  • … ‘It’s Sir Malcolm’s Birthday after all
  • 80th Birthday Concerts at Wigmore hall, October 23 & 25
  • New Recordings

Issue 42 Autumn 2001

  • Malcolm Arnold talks about Film Music
  • Norman Lebrecht regrets Arnold’s omission from the Proms
  • Paul Serotsky praises Arnold’s Music
  • Two World Premiere’s at Cheltenham
  • CD Launch on Arnold Birthday

Issue 41 Summer 2001

  • Malcolm Arnold on Bass Drum
  • Appeal passes £800 mark
  • Conclusion of BBC Omnibus
  • Philip Goodall listens to latest Arnold releases

Issue 40 Spring 2001

  • 80th Birthday Concert appeal
  • Something for everyone
  • Transcript of BBC Omnibus Documentary with John Amis
  • Latest recordings
  • Letters

Issue 39 Winter 2000

  • Arnold Festival Report: Philip Wood
  • Phillip Dyson writes about the Stolen Face Ballade
  • TV Chef joins the Society
  • Letters

Issue 38 Autumn 2000

  • First Arnold Festival in Northampton previewed
  • Members letters
  • More recording news
  • CD offer from Chandos

Issue 37 Summer 2000

  • Live performance reviews: 4th symphony (UK); 9th Symphony (American premiere)
  • The Name Game – Paul Jackson makes an analytical discovery
  • Me and Malcolm Arnold. Arnold’s librettist remembers
  • Malcolm Arnold Festival arranged for his home town of Northampton

Issue 36 Spring 2000

  • New Bostock CD reviewed
  • Member’s Letters
  • World wide performance diary
  • CD and Huddersfield Concert Ticket offers

Issue 35 Winter 1999

  • Bostock Interviewed
  • The Slaithwaite Review
  • Why am I a member of the Society
  • English Enigma part 2
  • CD offer

Issue 34 Autumn 1999

  • Pimlico Dictionary of 20th Century Music under scrutiny
  • An American Essay Part 1 from Robert R Reilly
  • 9th Symphony to receive American Premiere
  • CD offer

Issue 33 Summer 1999

  • The Slaithwaite Philharmonic announce their concert Season (incl. Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 2 & Symphony No. 4
  • John Huntley talks about Arnold’s Film Music
  • Paul Serotsky’s view of the John Field Fantasy
  • Arnold’s David Copperfield and new CDs

Issue 32 Spring 1999

  • Little Suite – Large Orchestra :Simon Rattle beats world record for largest orchestra
  • Portrait of Diana Hirst
  • American correspondence on new Conifer CD
  • Massachusetts member seeks contact with other members

Issue 31 Winter 1998

  • Christmas at Craigmore
  • Diana Hirst – New representative for Sir Malcolm
  • A Floral Garland in Northamptonshire
  • The Arethusa Ensemble performances
  • A look at Tam O’Shanter on CD

Issue 30 Autumn 1998

  • A Festival of British Music: proposals from Richard Hickox
  • Nulli Secundus: Kneller Hall revisited
  • The Arnold- Lean Trilogy Part 3: The Bridge on the River Kwai by Christopher Richie
  • CD special offers to members

Issue 29 Summer 1998

  • The Slaithwaite Tales (or The Night is ended but the melody lingers on)
    notes on the concert given by the Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Andrew Penny (conductor) joins the Society
  • Recording notes including Andrew Penny’s recording of the fourth symphony

Issue 28 Spring 1997

  • Conferment Day at the Royal Northern College of Music
  • Julian Bliss (aged 8)
  • The Arnold- Lean Trilogy Part 2: Hobson’s Choice by Christopher Richie
  • Concerto for Pop Group and Orchestra – Postscript by Vincent Budd

Issue 27 Winter 1997

  • Modulation: John Kehoe takes over from Stan Hibbert
  • The ‘Arnold Awards’
  • The Arnold-Lean Trilogy Part 1 by Christopher Richie
  • Malcolm Arnold and Jon Lord Part 2 Enter Malcolm Arnold by Vincent Budd

Issue 26 Autumn 1997

  • Surf with Arnold Arnold on the World Wide Web
  • Malcolm Arnold and Jon Lord: “Concerto for Group and Orchestra “and “Gemini Suite” by Vincent Budd
  • BBC Proms snub Arnold Again Editorial Comment
  • Recorded Music by Philip Goodall
  • STOP PRESS: Stan Hibbert has retired as Sir Malcolm’s personal representative. His place is taken by John Kehoe

Issue 25 Summer 1997

  • The Rehearsal Orchestra and Sir Malcolm’s Fifth symphony
  • Children’s Suite Opus 36 by Denis Bloodworth
  • A portrait of obsessive revenge: The concluding part of Paul Jackson’s look at Arnold’s ballet music
  • Philip Goodall – the Society’s new recording consultant

Issue 24 Spring 1997

  • An Arnold Premiere – almost! by Piers Burton-Page
  • Arnold’s happiest collaboration: the third part of Paul Jackson’s look at Arnold’s ballet music
  • Stan’s Master of the Queen’s Gala Music – Peterloo at the opening of Bridgewater Hall
  • Arnold Celebration ’96 some reflections by Stan Hibbert

Issue 23 Winter 1996

  • Thanks Stan – the Society shows its gratitude to Stan Hibbert
  • A Grand Grand Celebration – Phil’s view
  • This Christmas Night – an reprint of Mary Wilson’s carol set by Malcolm Arnold
  • A serious Error: the second part of Paul Jackson’s look at Arnold’s ballet music
  • Press reviews of the Sir Malcolm Arnold 75th birthday concert RFH London

Issue 22 Autumn 1996

  • Commemorative Issue for Sir Malcolm Arnold’s 75th Birthday
  • Birthday Greetings including those from H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent, Julian Lloyd Webber (Patron), Lady Hilary Grove and Norman Lebrecht
  • An Original Voice Uncompromised: The First part of an in-depth study of the ballet music of Malcolm Arnold by Paul Jackson
  • An Offbeat Story: Arnold as Composer of the Weeks at the BBC by Piers Burton-Page
  • Memories of Sir Malcolm by Philip Trowell
  • Issue 21 Summer 1996
  • Dear Mr Kenyon: An open letter to the Controller of BBC Radio 3 by Paul Brooks
  • Were you there? Arnold Celebration ’96
  • Sir Malcolm Arnold and the Recorder by Denis Bloodworth of Recorder Magazine
  • What the Papers say . . .
  • Lost and Found The Society’s founder, Paul Jackson, considers some Arnold gains and losses

Issue 20 Spring 1996

  • Stan’s Soirée launches Arnold Celebration ’96. The combined efforts of the Barbican Music Library, Novello & Co., Marialuisa Marino and others under the direction of Stan Hibbert, gave the “Arnold Celebration ’96” a magnificent send-off.
  • Vive Arnold record review by Michel Fleury
  • Arnold for Band record review by Keith Llewellyn

Issue 19 Winter 1995 (Newsletter renamed to Beckus)

  • A Merry Christmas from Sir Malcolm and Anthony
  • The Music of Malcolm Arnold by Adrian Smith (Slaithwaite Phil.)
  • Stan Hibbert on 75th Birthday Celebration plans for 1996
  • Inspiration and Joy by Marialuisa Marino

Issue 18 Autumn 1995

  • Hobson’s Choice in Rochdale
  • Wakefield Arnold Celebration
  • A letter from Philip Pfaff

Issue 17 Summer 1995

  • Kings Lynn Arts Festival Arnold Tribute
  • A letter from Barry Arnold Long
  • A letter from John Amis

Issue 16 Spring 1995 

  • The Arnold Celebration 96
  • Philharmonic Concerto – A book by Piers Burton-Page
  • Christopher Palmer, R.I.P.

Issue 15 Winter 1994 (Newsletter renamed to The Smoke)

  • Keith Llewellyn takes over running the Arnold Society
  • Malcolm Arnold – Composer of the week

Issues 01 – 14, July 1991 to October 1994 (simply named Newsletter)

  • Just a newsletter!
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