"Sir Arnold Bax, late Master of the Queen's Musick, was one of the most important composers who took part in the renaissance of English musical life in the early years of the twentieth century. After a decline in interest in his music following his death in 1953, much has recently been played and recorded--some of it hitherto unperformed. This is the first full-length study of Bax and, although planned as a general introduction, the book covers every aspect of Bax's prolific output, including that of his literary alter ego, Dermot O'Byrne, author of Irish prose and verse. This is a musical biography rather than a 'life'. The music is discussed in the context of the development of the composer's creative personality, and special emphasis is placed on the seven Symphonies, widely considered his finest work. Mr Scott-Sutherland shows the duality of Bax's nature and covers, in the biographical pages, the colourful early years of the twentieth century in English music. These pages include important contributions from many who knew Bax well, including Padraic Colum, Harriet Cohen and Charles Kennedy Scott. Many of the conclusions drawn by the author have not been advanced before and they present new and fascinating aspects of one of the most complex figures in the history of English music." --Dust jacket.

Completely revised and updated from recently discovered archive material, Lewis Foreman's classic biography is the essential handbook to Bax and his contemporaries.

"Each chapter begins with a discussion of its composer's song-output and of the poets and poetry he sets, and goes on to give an account of the influences on him and the hallmarks of his style; the songs are then discussed in detail, focusing on the major works. The text is illustrated with musical examples and there is a comprehensive bibliography and index"--Jacket.