Equally likely to please knowledgeable fans of English orchestral music and those who know only Greensleeves and Land of Hope and Glory, this collection of divertimentos and sinfoniettas by English modernists is a sure-fire winner. There is a surprising range of musical variety:
Tippett's Divertimento is supple and sinewy, while Rawsthorne's is lighter in sound, but tougher in aesthetic;
Britten's Sinfonietta has a sly irony that contrasts with
Berkeley's straightforward sincerity and
Arnold's lightheartedness. Though their violins sometimes sound strained in climaxes and the horns occasionally miss notes, the
English Chamber Orchestra is for the most part up to the music, and
del Mar gets into the spirit of things with a nimble touch and flamboyant gestures. In
Arnold's Sinfonietta, the
London Philharmonic under
Braithwaite sounds much perkier than usual, and one gets the sense they are thoroughly enjoying themselves. Recorded by Lyrita in crisp stereo sound in 1977 and 1978, this disc is an outstanding addition to the English discography.