Erik Chisholm

Erik CHISHOLM (1904-1965)Music for Piano, Volume 7Five Elegies; Peter Pan Suite; Praeterita (Sonatina no. 4) – First Movement; Suite No. 1; Suite No. 2; Suite No. 3 (Ballet) Murray McLachlan (piano)Divine Arts ddv24155 [68:45]According to the excellent liner notes by John Purser, this present volume of ‘Music for Piano’ by Erik Chisholm is likely to be the last. He writes that unless ‘current research work uncovers sufficient previously unknown...

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Edward Elgar: Rare Movie film

Just a very short post today. This lovely compilation of rare Elgar 'home movies' has appeared on YouTube. Lots of fine footage of Elgar's dogs,including Mina and Marco. They have been beautifully restored and make a very personal portrait of a great composer. Attractive music has been added as a soundtrack. There is a concluding shot of the composer conducting at Abbey Road Studios. And, finally look out for the composer throwing a match onto the...

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David Dubery: Songs and Chamber Works

David DUBERY (b.1948)Songs and Chamber musicSonatina for oboe and piano (Threesome for 2 players) (1986); Three Songs to Poems by Robert Graves (for mezzo soprano, recorder and piano (2001); Four Songs for mezzo soprano and piano (1971-1985); Suite from Degrees of Evidence for recorder, oboe and viola (2004);‘Remember’ for voice and piano (2005) Two Stopfordian Impressions for recorder and piano (2008-2009); Sonata for cello and piano (2006); Escapades...

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Frank Bridge: Piano music on SOMM Volume 3

Frank Bridge (1879-1941) Piano Music Volume 3Three Poems: ‘Sunset’, ‘Solitude’ & ‘Ecstasy’ (1913-14); Hidden Fires (c.1926); Arabesque (1914); Three Pieces: ‘Moderato’, Pensée Fugitive & Scherzettino (1902-03); Miniature Pastorals Set 3 (1921); Three Improvisations (for the left hand): ‘At Dawn’, ‘A Vigil’ & ‘A Revel’ (1918); Winter Pastoral (1925); Three Lyrics: ‘Heart’s Ease’, ‘Dainty Rogue’ & ‘The Hedgerow’ (1921-24); A Dedication...

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The Festival of Britain 1951: Some commissioned works

British Music was deemed to be an important part of the 1951 Festival of Britain. There were a series of eight concerts devoted to the music of Henry Purcell alongside recitals of English Song, ranging from the lutenists to contemporary composers. Alongside this British music a vast range of works were played from the standard international repertoire.However, a special feature of the Festival of Britain was the Arts Council decision to commission...

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Haydn Wood: Frescoes for orchestra.

The unfortunate thing about this short suite is that you need to have two CDs to hear the entire work! The suite is in three well-balanced movements, however it does not appear to have been recorded as a complete entity – at least it has not been released as such. The first movement is on a Guild Light Music CD and is played by the New Concert Orchestra conducted by Serge Krish and the second and third are part of the Marco Polo Haydn Wood retrospective Volume 2, played by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ernest Tomlinson. [Haydn...

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Joseph Holbrooke: Chamber Music on Naxos

Joseph HOLBROOKE (1878-1958)Violin Sonata No.1 (Sonatina), Op.6a (1890s); Horn Trio in D (original version) Op.28 (c.1906); Violin Concerto ‘The Grasshopper’ (Violin Sonata No.2) Op.59 (1909-1916); Mezzo-Tints, Op.55 No.2- L’Extase (1913) Kerenza Peacock (violin) Mark Smith (horn) Robert Stevenson (piano)NAXOS 8.572649 [74:59]The best place to start this excellent new CD of music by Josef Holbrooke is the short character piece L’Extase from the Mezzotints...

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William Walton: Constant Lambert writing on ‘Facade’

Constant Lambert first appeared as a reciter in Facade in the New Chenil Galleries, Chelsea, London on 29 June 1926 and had an involvement with the work over the succeeding years. In the February 1928 edition of The Dominant magazine he wrote an article entitled ‘Some Recent Works by William Walton.’The music of the entertainment Facade includes, in its different versions, [1] work ranging over several years, although the only published numbers are...

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It's the The Last Night of the Proms - 2011

The Last Night of the Proms already! Where does time fly?? A bit of a mixed concert from the British point of view. Let us put aside the lollipops (much as I like them) such as Pomp & Circumstance No.1 by Edward Elgar, Jerusalem by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (this is his only outing at this year’s Proms) Arne’s 'Rule Britannia' and the National Anthem. The BBC have to include these numbers whether they deem them politically correct or not!...

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William Blezard: Two Celtic Pieces

The Two Celtic Pieces were originally composed for flute and piano. They were written for a friend who needed some material to help to learn the flute. However, after some thought Blezard decided that the Highland Lament would sound better on the oboe. The Irish Whirligig followed suit. I once wrote that the finest piece of Scottish music was written by Sir Malcolm Arnold – a man born in Northampton- when he penned the third of the Four Scottish...

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Edward Elgar: Chamber Music on Hyperion

Edward Elgar: Chamber MusicString Quartet in E minor, Op.83 (1918) Mina (solo piano) (1932-33) Laura Valse (solo piano) (1887) March in D major (solo piano) (1887)Impromptu (solo piano) (1932) Piano Quintet in A minor, Op.84 (1918-19) Piers Lane (piano) Goldner String Quartet: Dene Olding (violin) Dimity Hall (violin) Irina Morozova (viola) Julian Smiles (cello)HYPERION CDA67857 It may be heresy to say this, but I would swap a great deal of Elgar’s...

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Prom Watch 2001 Week 8

This is the eighth of my Proms-Watch analysis of British Music being performed during the 2011 season. Once again it is not a brilliant week for British music, but there are some hightlights...Friday 2 SeptemberAh, lucky old Gustav Mahler – tonight is the fourth symphony played at the 2011 Proms: it is the turn of Symphony No. 1 in D major. Would that certain British composers could have had just one played – Rawsthorne, Martelli, Searle, Joubert, Cliffe, Dunhill, Coleridge-Taylor, Grace Williams...Other works at this concert given by the Budapest...

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