Search - Boughton, Sarah Francis, Rpo :: Symphony 3

Rutland Boughton (1878-1960) was not as prolific a composer as were some of his British peers, but his music does reflect the tenor of the times: it tends to be middle-of-the-road romantic and somewhat conservative. The Symphony 3 (1937) is a closely-argued work in four standard movements that rarely deviates from the almost classical format. Still, Boughton's ideas do appear original, if perhaps underachieved. The Concerto for Oboe and Strings (1937) has clear affinities with Mozart, betraying hardly a hint of its English folk music roots. Still, Vernon Hadly wrings an excellent performance from both soloist and orchestra. --Paul Cook