Divine Art Records

Artist: Murray McLachlan

  • Discovering Wilfred Heaton

    Discovering Wilfred Heaton

    “Creative Outlet and Classical Conduit: The Importance of British Brass Band” by Paul Hindmarsh – Classical Music

    Discovering Wilfred Heaton: Premiere recordings of major instrumental works by a remarkable yet overlooked English composer.

    Wilfred Heaton (1918-2000) is a name well-revered in brass band circles, but nearly unknown in the wider world of classical music. Discovering Wilfred Heaton seeks to change that with no less than seven premiere recordings from pianists Murray McLachlan and Rose McLachlan, tenor James Gilchrist, clarinetist Linda Merrick, and flutist Alex Jakeman.

    The album is anchored by the first recording of Heaton’s monumental Piano Sonata, which was performed in 2024 to rapturous applause by Murray McLachlan at Manchester’s Stoller Hall. The Sonata, composed in the 1950s, is a work of striking ambition and depth. Harmonically daring, emotionally raw, and technically formidable, it stands comparison with the great mid-century sonatas of Bartók and Prokofiev. From the muscular counterpoint of its opening, through a grief-tinged slow movement and a dazzling finale, Heaton’s sonata reveals a powerful, individual voice—he was fearless in embracing big themes, bold melodies, and contemporary idioms.

    Also featured are first recordings of the Three Pieces for Piano (1954), and the poignant piano suite Pilgrim Reflections, adapted from Heaton’s mystery play Pilgrim’s Song. A selection of Heaton’s rarely-heard songs—written in his youth and again in later life—are performed here by the acclaimed tenor James Gilchrist, accompanied by Rose McLachlan. Together, these works illuminate Heaton’s stylistic evolution: his command of bitonality, rhythmic complexity, and melodic invention, rooted in a deep understanding of Bach and Brahms, and influenced by Walton, Hindemith, Bartok and Stravinsky.

    Heaton’s career was shaped by a lifelong tension between personal conviction and professional ambition. A deeply private Yorkshireman, he turned away from a mainstream musical path after early promise—studying with Mátyás Seiber and submitting works to the Society for the Promotion of New Music—choosing instead a life of teaching, reflection, and selective composition. The result is a body of work of exceptional quality, much of it unpublished or unheard until now.

    This album is not only a significant act of musical archaeology by Heaton’s biographer and editor Paul Hindmarsh – it is a compelling argument for Heaton’s inclusion among Britain’s most original post-war composers.

    Track highlights:
    • Piano Sonata (premiere recording) – Murray McLachlan,piano
    • Three Pieces for Piano (1954)
    • Pilgrim Reflections (suite for solo piano)

    For fans of: Bartók, Britten, Prokofiev, William Walton, Elisabeth Lutyens, early Tippett.

    An essential discovery for collectors, performers, and listeners drawn to British 20th-century repertoire beyond the usual names.

  • Russian Piano Music, Vols. 1-15

    Russian Piano Music, Vols. 1-15

    25% PERCENT OFF USUAL PRICE

    A major series mixing familiar and less-known music, from the Russian Romantic school, from Rachmaninov to Ustvolskaya by way of Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Rebikov, Gliere, Lyapunov, Arensky, Weinberg, Mussorgsky and more.

    Each CD has been critically acclaimed. Featuring pianists Natalia Andreeva, Anthony Goldstone, Murray McLachlan, Alfonso Soldano, Stefania Argentieri and Sergei Dukachev.

    Explore the series :

    Digital downloads include all booklets in PDF format.
    This set consists of 14 single albums and one double.

  • John R. Williamson – Music for Piano, Volumes 1-3

    John R. Williamson – Music for Piano, Volumes 1-3

    The music of John R. Williamson, a composer from Manchester, England, is deserving of greater recognition. Murray McLachlan is a champion of Williamson’s music and presents three albums in which his stylistic and virtuosic playing enhances further the individuality of these works.

    Includes the following:

    Digital downloads include all three booklet in PDF format.

  • Ronald Stevenson Piano Music

    Ronald Stevenson Piano Music

    Ronald Stevenson is one of the most original minds in the world of the composition of music. – So said Yehudi Menuhin. This magnum opus set is a magnificent culmination of several years of planning and a great acheivement by Murray McLachlan. Stevenson’s most remarkable work, Le Festin d’Alkan, is given a superb performance as are his incredibly varied transcriptions and fantasies on Bach, Ysaÿe and Chopin (and others) and a number of his other original works.

    Stevenson’s other tour-de-force, the 80-minute Passacaglia on DSCH, is played by Murray McLachlan on DDA25013.

  • Russian Piano Music, Vol. 10 – Weinberg II

    Russian Piano Music, Vol. 10 – Weinberg II

    Mieczyslaw Weinberg (aka Moisey Vainberg) was in fact born and raised in Poland, but the vast majority of his compositional career was in the Soviet Union and he remained there for the rest of his life, in Moscow. He therefore comes well within the definition of ‘Russian’ for the purpose of this series and was certainly treated as such by the authorities. This and the preceding album (DDA 25105) which includes the first three sonatas, were originally released on the now defunct Olympia label but had a relativley short life and restricted distribution, and are still the only full recordings of these very fine works. This is music which though modern is written to comply with Soviet requirements and is thus also very approachable and melodic without ever being trite or unoriginal.

  • Russian Piano Music, Vol. 9 – Weinberg I

    Russian Piano Music, Vol. 9 – Weinberg I

    Mieczyslaw Weinberg (aka Moisey Vainberg) was in fact born and raised in Poland, but the vast majority of his compositional career was in the Soviet Union and he remained there for the rest of his life, in Minsk (now the capital of independent Belarus). He therefore comes well within the definition of ‘Russian’ for the purpose of this series and was certainly treated as such by the authorities. This and the succeeding album (DDA 25107) which includes the remaining three sonatas, were originally released on the now defunct Olympia label but had a relatively short life and restricted distribution, and are still the only full recordings of these very fine works. This is music which though modern is written to comply with Soviet requirements and is thus also very approachable and melodic without ever being trite or unoriginal.

  • Russian Piano Music Vol. 1 – Shostakovich and Comrades

    Russian Piano Music Vol. 1 – Shostakovich and Comrades

    McLachlan has long had a fine reputation as a performer of Russian music, as well as championing brilliant but little-known composers such as Williamson and Chisholm (see the composer index). On this CD, he presents the Piano Sonatas nos 1 and 2 by Shostakovich with works by composers in his circle; though not Russian, the piece by Roland Stevenson is included both because it is based on Shostakovich’s name, but also because Stevenson, politically, can genuinely be called a ‘comrade’ of those devoted to Socialism but fighting the Stalinist regime.

    Save %%%% with the entire Series up to vol. 12. More albums being added regularly.

  • Stevenson Passacaglia

    Stevenson Passacaglia

    This is a very important release for lovers of 20th century music, featuring one of the most fascinating and important piano works of the 20th century. Passacaglia is, first, one of the longest continuous solo keyboard pieces ever written. It has collected almost a cult following. It is also a piece of wide variety, collecting in influences from the music of many places, but based strongly and closely throughout on the initials DSCH (for Dmitri Schostakovich). We were pleased to dedicate this disc to the composer in celebration of his 75th birthday.

    Pianist Murray McLachlan is one of Britain’s leading exponents of modern music. He has recorded 2 previous CDs for Divine Art and also for Dunelm and Olympia.

    See his 3-CD set of Stevenson’s music (given the IRR ‘outstanding’ award’) on DDA 21372.

  • Celestial Harmonies – piano music by Camilleri

    Celestial Harmonies – piano music by Camilleri

    McLachlan is one of the established Camilleri specialists; performer and composer worked together on this CD of music (first recordings in each case) some of which was especially written for this recording. Camilleri’s music here is very special – atmospheric, mystical but also full of life and vigour.

    Camilleri of a different kind: light, fun and brilliant orchestral works on DDV 24126 and for two pianos on DDV 24167.

  • The Scottish Romantics

    The Scottish Romantics

    Most of the piano works of McCunn (whose operas are being rediscovered), McEwen, and Mackenzie, who is acknowledged to be one of Elgar’s main influences, are on this disc, all for the first time. Pieces ranging in mood from Chopin to Debussy via Liszt, and all with an unmistakeable Scottish lilt. Voted one of the best CDs of 1996 by “Scotland’s Music”