The British composer Malcolm Arnold (1921–2006) was both a prolific and a versatile composer. We know that Arnold took young Julian Bream under his wing when he was just establishing himself on the concert platform, and part of that support was through the compositions that he wrote for the guitar. The first of these came in 1955 when Malcolm Arnold wrote the Serenade for Guitar and Strings, Op. 50 for Julian Bream and the Richmond Community Orchestra and it remained an important part of Bream’s repertoire – and that of the generations of guitarists to follow.

In October 2008, Julian Bream came out of retirement to perform the Serenade for Guitar and Strings by Malcolm Arnold with the Royal Academy of Music Ensemble, conducted by Jessica Cottis, at the 3rd Malcolm Arnold Festival in 2008, held in Northampton.

A few days ago, the Malcolm Arnold Society released this video of that performance, which includes a wonderful introduction by Julian Bream.

For further exploration and enjoyment of Julian Bream, performing and talking about the works that Malcolm Arnold wrote for him, see this video about Malcolm Arnold’s Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra, Op. 67, from the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall on 20 July 1991. There was a happy/worrying moment at the end of Julian Bream’s performance where Malcolm Arnold came on stage to receive applause but then took hold of Julian Bream’s guitar. Fortunately no damage was done, but it is a mark of both of their senses of humour.

In a pre-concert performance for that 1991 BBC Proms performance, Julian Bream discusses his feelings about the concerto. Thirty years later, he still considered it a ‘masterpiece’ and commented on the virtuosic parts for wind as well as the guitar, which is probably what creates the overall excitement of the music throughout. He remarks that Malcolm Arnold had an instinct for writing for the guitar and all the melodies fall comfortably on the guitar. To view this pre-concert interview and the full performance at the BBC Proms 1991, as well as Malcolm Arnold’s antics with the guitar at the end of the performance, see:

For more information about the work of the Malcolm Arnold Society and its publications and events, visit their website

The 20th International Arnold Festival will be held on 18–19 October 2025 in Northampton. For more details, see their official festival website.

© 2025 Thérèse Wassily Saba