Divine Art Records

Composer: Alan Rawsthorne

  • The Whistling Book

    The Whistling Book

    This album derives from a 1998 release from Forsyth Brothers (Manchester) featuring works published in their Recorder Catalogue. It was then called ‘John and Peter’s Whistling Book’. For this new version, remastered in 2022, several extra tracks have been added. The album features the recorder at its most scintillatingly bright – most of the music here, though very recent, is melodic, tuneful, often in dance form, and witty – for example Alan Bullard’s suite inspired by favorite foods from around the world. Two small forays into modernism are provided by superb pieces by Richard Whalley and Kevin Malone.

    John Turner is one of the world’s most respected and skilful recorderists, with a long history of recordings, publications and premieres, including regular appearances with the Academy of Ancient Music, the Early Music Consort with David Munrow, English Chamber Orchestra and Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.
    Peter Lawson has also enjoyed a long and illustrious career; he taught at Chetham’s School of Music for almost 40 years and has a large and impressive discography to his name.

  • Rawsthorne and Other Rarities

    Rawsthorne and Other Rarities

    In one sense this is a sequel to the recent release ‘A Garland for John McCabe’ (DDA 25166) – originally intended as a 2nd disc in that set, but it grew to be a full album in its own right, and is also dedicated to McCabe with first recordings of works by McCabe’s fellow composers. Just as importantly it is a feast of fine music by British and American composers, all (except one very short track) recorded for the first time, including principally music by Alan Rawsthorne – the early and jolly String Quartet in B minor, the Chamber Cantata, and the piano version of the remarkable ‘Practical Cats’.

    Clare Wilkinson is receiving rave reviews for her work and is a mezzo with beautiful tone; veteran baritone Mark Rowlinson is the fine reciter of ‘Cats’. John Turner, one of the leading recorder players of today and former member of many world-renowned early-music ensembles, and pianist Peter Lawson, another highly regarded performer who has played with most top British orchestras and has a long and distinguished recording and teaching career, are joined by keyboard maestro Harvey Davies and the very fine Solem Quartet.

  • Elegy – 20th century British Guitar Music

    Elegy – 20th century British Guitar Music

    Two of the finest modern works for guitar – John Tavener’s “Chant” and Alan Rawsthorne’s “Elegy” which, with Terence Croucher’s piece of the same name gives the title to this collection – appear with music from several of Britain’s most accomplished composers for the instrument. Jonathan’s fourth recording, and his first for Divine Art, presents works with which he has a special affinity and demonstrates why these compositions deserve a wider audience. This recording has been kindly supported by the Rawsthorne Trust.

    Our recording of John Tavener’s “Chant” from this CD was chosen to feature in a new 2CD set issued by Naxos in January 2004. Called “Portrait of John Tavener”, the CD number is 8.558160-61.

    Jonathan Richards plays his own arrangements of music by J S Bach: “Sarabande” on DDV 24115 and gorgeous romantic pieces on “Forever” DDV 24119.