Sir Malcolm Arnold was born in Northampton, England, in 1921 and quickly established himself as a fluent and versatile composer, as well as a brilliant orchestrator. Arnold’s music springs directly from dance and song. It is typically lucid in texture, rich in melody and clear in draughtmanship. In his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies Arnold adds to these characteristics striking contrasts in timbre and rhythm, which are contained within his lush orchestrations. Frequently there are signs of a complex musical personality and dramatic tensions not far below the music’s seductive surface. Both symphonies exert a continuing appeal, stimulating repeated listening.