opis
Bax eventually completed his Symphony No. 2 in E minor and C major in 1926, after intermittent work for the previous two years. It was dedicated to Sergey Koussevitzky who, after protracted negotiations with Bax, conducted the first two performances in Boston with the Boston Symphony Orchestra on 13th and 14th December 1929. Eugene Gooseens conducted the first London performance with the Queen's Hall Orchestra on 20th May 1930. The symphony is scored for piccolo doubling flute, two other flutes, two oboes, cor anglais, three clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, double bassoon, four horns, three trumpets, two tenor trombones, bass trombone and tenor and bass tuba. A varied percussion section includes timpani, bass drum, tambourine, cymbals, xylophone, glockenspiel, celesta, piano and two harps. Use is made of the organ and the orchestra is completed by the usual strings.