Sir Arnold Bax - Tintagel

"Tintagel" by Sir Arnold Bax is played in this recording by the
Hallé Orchestra, conducted by Sir Mark Elder. The paintings
are all of Tintagel Castle and the surrounding coastline. The
statue of King Arthur, "Gallos", is by the Welsh artist Rubin
Eynon. Courtesy of Wikipedia:- The castle has a long
association with the Arthurian legends; it was first
associated with King Arthur by Welshman Geoffrey of
Monmouth in his book Historia Regum Britanniae ("History of
the Kings of Britain"), written around 1135-38, which
includes a detailed account of the legend. According to
Geoffrey and the legend, Arthur's father was Uther
Pendragon, the king of all Britain. He goes to war against
Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall, to capture Gorlois' wife Igraine,
with whom Uther has fallen in love. Gorlois defends himself
against Uther's armies at his fort of Dimilioc, but he sends
Igraine to stay safely within Tintagel Castle which is his most
secure refuge, according to the legend and Historia Regum
Britanniae. Uther besieges Dimilioc, telling his friend Ulfin
how he loves Igraine, but Ulfin replies that it would be
impossible to take Tintagel, for "it is right by the sea, and
surrounded by the sea on all sides; and there is no other way
into it, except that provided by a narrow rocky passage-and
there, three armed warriors could forbid all entry, even if you
took up your stand with the whole of Britain behind you."


Geoffrey of Monmouth's story goes on to explain how the

wizard Merlin is summoned and magically changes Uther's

appearance to that of Gorlois to help get them into Tintagel
Castle, while also changing his own and Ulfin's appearances
to those of two of Gorlois' companions. Disguised th
are able to enter Tintagel where Uther goes to Igraine, and "in
that night was the most famous of men, Arthur, conceived."