Robert Hugill has established a reputation as a fine composer of sacred music, contemporary yet totally accessible and tonal. His extended works The Testament of Dr Cranmer, based on the speech given by Cranmer just before being burnt to death, and What is Man?, are joined by several shorter liturgical pieces all demonstrating Hugill’s distinctive style.
Product Cat: Recording
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Enchantment – music for flute and piano
Kenneth Smith is principal flute of the Philharmonia Orchestra, and also has a busy solo career; for many years he has partnered pianist Paul Rhodes, in a duo which has gained an enviable reputation for quality in both the concert hall and on recordings. The duo’s first CD for Divine Art features a glorious programme of French romantic music*.
Supplied in a high quality digipak. Cover art: from “Paris by Night” by the esteemed artist Nina Mikhailenko.
* We know Franck was Belgian – but he was also a Francophone, and spent much time in Paris.
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The Far Country – 26 English Songs
John Jeffreys was a 20th century British composer who specialised in music for solo voice and his songs, exemplified by this fine collection, are masterworks of the genre, directly in the tradition inherited from Moeran, Delius, Finzi, and especially Warlock. Beautifully performed by James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook these works are timeless and will have lasting appeal.
Also see Northumberland and Beyond – songs by John Jeffreys on DDV 24128 and Idylls and Elegies – orchestral works on DDA 25082.
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Fantasie – Music for Horn
Etienne Cutajar is a star of the future and an extraordinarily gifted horn player. This CD presents music for horn with piano, with harp and solo. Included are two world première recordings: the Fantasie Sonata by Charles Camilleri (who attended the recording sessions and was most delighted with the performance!) and Jean-Michel Damase’s “Aspects”.
Booklet notes in English, French, German.
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Unheard Mozart
Following Anthony Goldstone’s surveys of rare and previously unrecorded music by Schubert and Beethoven (some original, some in arrangements) and the groundbreaking disc of Mozart piano duo works made with Caroline Clemmow (25046) this is perhaps his most ambitious project to date, including two completely new sonatas, realised from sketches left by Mozart, and several other newly-completed pieces. Approved with enthusiasm by Mozart scholars, including Julian Rushton who wrote the booklet notes, these wonderful new completions will soon be part of the standard Mozart repertoire. ALL FIRST RECORDINGS.
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Avison: Concerti Grossi after Geminiani
Charles Avison was long neglected, but is now being recognised as one of the most brilliant and accomplished English composers of the 18th century. These 12 Concerti are based on Geminiani’s opus 1 violin sonatas,are played on period instruments and are recorded here for the first time, by the group which has itself made a reputation as one of the finest instrumental ensembles in Europe. The first of our series of major Avison releases. (All Five Volumes available in a single set at large discount!).
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Fortmann: Requiem for an Unborn Child
Three major works from the renowned Swiss composer Thomas Fortmann – including the first CD recording of his chamber works Ladyboy and Tango Catolico, which have been very popular in broadcast performances. In Requiem for an Unborn Child we hear a work which has received enormous acclaim in Europe – challenging, uncomfortable words, eclectic and distinctive yet completely accessible musical language which draws much upon the German music-theatre tradition of Weill and cabaret-song.
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Gossiana – A Tribute to John Goss
Subtitled, “A 1920s anthology of song” this album is not filled only by music composed during the 1920s, but is made in tribute to one of Britain’s greatest, and now almost forgotten, singers: John Goss. At the height of his career in the 1920s, Goss was a close friend of Warlock, Moeran and other composers, and ahead of his time in giving mixed recitals, including all types of song from lieder to sea shanties. This is reflected in this CD. Giles Davies played Goss in a recent film directed by Tony Britten.
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Buxtehude: Organ Music
Thirteen of the great baroque master’s organ works, in fine new performances by David Hamilton, played on the Aubertin organ at the University of Aberdeen.
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Mozart on Reflection
Mozart wrote one complete sonata for two pianos, the famous D major, here in a superb performance. But he also left sketches of a second work in B flat, which has been completed and realised by Anthony Goldstone. Together with Goldstone’s transcription of the Adagio and Rondo, originally written for glass harmonica, and arrangements by Busoni and Grieg, this is perhaps one of the most fascinating and unusual programmes of Mozart available.
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Villa-Lobos: Voice of Brazil
Tuneful, exotic, brilliant – the vocal music of Heitor Villa-Lobos encaptures the spirit of Brazil. This recital was recorded in 1972/3 and issued on 3 LP’s, one of which, including the Bachiana Brasileira, won the Grand Prix du Disque in 1973, and was also highly praised by the composer’s widow.
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Grieg for Piano Duo
A most important world première recording – possibly the world’s most loved piano concerto, in the arrangement for two pianos partly written by Grieg himself. The CD also contains the first recording of Grieg’s piano version of the Homage March indomitably played as always by Britain’s leading piano duo.