This special digital-only EP release contains a very special piece of music: Paul Mealor’s short choral cycle Now sleeps the crimson petal; adapted, as ‘Ubi Caritas’ for the 2011 Royal Wedding; its four poems set with such skill as to make this one of the most astonishingly superb choral works of our age. The EP is also a ‘taster’ for the full album Madrigali: Fire and Roses which also features ancient madrigals and a brilliant extended work, Madrigali, by American composer Morten Lauridsen, available in both CD and download: DDA25094.
Genre: Chamber Music
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Delicias – Spanish Delights for Piano Duo
Spain, with its location at the southern tip of western Europe, and its exotic history, has developed a unique music tradition, more aligned, through the influence of the Islamic Moorish period, with the middle east than with the more northern parts of Europe. This cultural uniqueness has attracted hosts of non-Spanish composers to write ‘Spanish’ pieces many of which have become staples of the repertoire. This programme includes some favourites – but in unfamiliar guise – and some wonderful and little known gems too. Full of zest, fire and ‘soul’. Several premiere recordings.
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Music by John Rose
John Rose writes music which embraces a post-modern freedom – allowing him to build tonal and memorable music often with a strong neo-baroque sound, strongly inspired by Bach – although Shostakovich is another source of inspiration. This is not to limit his work which is varied and rich, but emphasises his distinctive linear style.
Hopefully his work will become better known as his musical legacy deserves recognition.
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Avison: Harpsichord Sonatas, op. 5 & 7
This set is the final release in the Avison Ensemble’s complete recording of Avison’s orchestral and chamber music, marvellous baroque works of inspiration which have been greeted with delight by customers and critics alike. Here we have the twelve harpsichord sonatas of opus 5 and opus 7 – a worthy culmination of a fine series. The full series is available as a low-price set.
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Peter Warlock: Collected 78rpm recordings (2CD)
Philip Heseltine, aka Peter Warlock, was an enigma in many ways – song-writing and arranging genius; fine orchestrator – but also a political animal, bon-viveur and ultimately a self-absorbed depressive who took his own life. This 2 CD set comprises (with one exception) all the recordings of Warlock’s work issued on standard-groove records, between 1925 and 1951 – all lovingly collected by the late John Bishop, stalwart of the Peter Warlock Society, which has generously assisted with the production of this album whcih can be seen as a tribute to one of England’s most influential composers of the early 20th century. Detailed notes on the man and his music, and these recordings, are included. Performers include some of Britain’s finest of the age.
The ‘missing’ item is a recording of ‘The Curlew’ by John Armstrong with the International String Quartet – this omission was not taken lightly, but would have required a 3rd CD making the set quite expensive – the recording is available via Pristine Audio
TRACKS:
Capriol Suite
London Chamber Orch/Bernard
Serenade for Strings
NGS Chamber Orchestra/Barbirolli
Purcell/Warlock: Fantaisie no. 3
The Pasquier Trio
Purcell/Warlock: 2-Part Fantasia no. 9
The Griller String Quartet
Capriol Suite (arr. Szigeti)
Josef Szigeti & Nikita Magalov
The Curlew
Soames, Nielsen, Aeolian String Quartet
Serenade for Strings
Capriol Suite
Constant Lambert String Orch. /Lambert
Captain Stratton’s Fancy
Peter Dawson
Oh Good Ale;
Flow not fast ye fountains; There is a garden; O eyes, O mortal stars; Come, my Celia
John Goss
Corpus Christi
The English Singers
Sleep; Chop Cherry
John Armstrong/ International String Qt.
The Fox; Sleep; Take o take those lips away; Sweet and Kind; As Ever I Saw; The Passionate Shepherd
Parry Jones
Corpus Christi
Ann Jones, Peter Pears, BBC Chorus
A Cornish Christmas Carol
BBC Chorus/Woodgate
Six Nursery Jingles
Cecil Cope
Milkmaids; Captain Stratton’s Fancy; Sigh no More; Pretty Ring Time; Passing By; My Own Country; Fair and True; Piggesnie
Roy Henderson
Sweet and Twenty; Sleep
Nancy Evans
Rest Sweet Nymphs
Truro County Girls’ School Choir
The First Mercy
Billy Neeley
Corpus Christi
Flora Nielsen, Rene Soames, Festival Singers
The Frostbound Wood; The Fox
Dennis Noble
Captain Stratton’s Fancy
Oscar Natzke -
Avison: Trio Sonatas, op. 1 and Keyboard Sonatas, op. 8
The fourth in our series of Avison’s music, and part of the Complete Edition completed at the end of 2009. These hitherto unknown works are real baroque gems. The op. 1 Trio Sonatas led by the strings, are accompanied by Robert Howarth on chest organ continuo; while Robert moves front of stage and to the harpsichord in the Keyboard Sonatas, op. 8.
These recordings issued at bargain price help further to confirm that 18th century England was a place of fine creative artistry in music. Purchase the low-price five-volume set.
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Avison: 12 Concerti Grossi after Scarlatti
Thought by many to be Avison’s greatest masterpieces, these arrangements of Scarlatti’s keyboard sonatas were for many decades the only Avison music known. Now thanks to Gordon Dixon and the Avison Ensemble, a complete edition of his quite large output is well underway; this is the fifth in the series, following two sets on Naxos and two on Divine Art. This is sublime baroque music at its best, performed on period instruments. Purchase the full five volume set.
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By the River in Spring
The CD takes its title from the well loved piece by Michael Head. This recital of British music for flute and piano is mainly romantic in mood, but not sentimental, given the robust nature of the sonatas by Alwyn and Leighton (both rarities despite the stature of their composers). A splendid third divine art CD for Smith and Rhodes which includes a number of little gems recorded for the first time.
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Chopin for Piano Duo
There seems no end to the brilliance not only of the musicianship and pianistic skill of our top piano duo but also their dedication to re-discovering and recording lost or neglected masterpieces. Here we have the very well known Second Piano Concerto of Chopin, in a two-piano version by Chopin himself and his pupil Mikuli – and never before recorded. A host of other rarities and transcriptions complete yet another reference recording.
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Avison: 18 Concerti Grossi, op. 9 & 10
Following the enormous success of the Avison Ensemble’s John Garth CD (DDA 25059) and the Avison/Geminiani Concerti (DDA 21210) we are delighted to present another premiere recording of the finest baroque music. Even before official release, chosen by Classic FM as its disc of the week, this 2 CD set (at the price of 1 CD) is the first complete recording of these concerti. The Avison Ensemble is led by Pavlo Beznosiuk. This set was another step towards the complete Avison Edition, now complete.
Avison’s concerti can be played in various instrumentations: here we have the “chamber orchestra” version. Six of the op. 9 concerti are performed in the string quartet version on Diversions 24108. All five volumes are also available as a low-price set.
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Cello Diverse
Susanne Beer was one of the UK’s leading orchestral cellists and here makes her debut solo album with the extremely talented pianist Gareth Hancock. Diverse works, yet bound in commonality by the cello’s voice-like quality and ability to convey emotion and mood.
Tragically, Susanne died in December 2019, at the age of 52, after a battle with cancer. She will be sadly missed.
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To Pan and Syrinx – Romantic Flute and Piano
Following their first Divine Art album “Enchantment”, acclaimed flute and piano duo Ken Smith and Paul Rhodes have recorded a sumptuous disc of romantic music, including the rare and lovely Sonata by Melanie Bonis, one of the few women composers of the late 19th /early 20th centuries, and who was a pupil of César Franck. Presented in luxury digipak.