Christine M. Pluck

Rare and original chamber music gems., 2 Jan 2013

This disc contains four delightful and original compositions by Schumann which are rarely performed.

I will describe them in the order they appear on the disc:

1. Andante and Variations for two pianos, two cellos and horn. (just under 20 minutes).

This was completed in 1843 but published posthumously, by Brahms, in 1893.
It opens in sombre mood with pianos and cellos dominant but the 1st and 3rd variations are vigorous
allegros where the horn makes significant contributions. There is a most delightful passage between
10 and 13 minutes where the horn's interjections are like a series of good-natured hunting calls.

2. Funf Stucke Im… Read more

Bantock at his brilliant best!, 29 Dec 2012

Sir Granville Bantock, though not a household name, was a composer much admired by Sibelius, Elgar and Sir Thomas Beecham; in fact he was the dedicatee of Sibelius 3rd, Symphony.

In the period 1898 to 1905, Bantock wrote 4 song cycles, of which Sappho was the final one. Sappho was a Greek Lyric poet, born on the Island of Lesbos around 620 BC and only one complete poem: Hymn to Aphrodite remains. There is also a significant fragment "Peer of the gods he seems.", the rest of the poems exist only as odd lines. Bantock's wife, a competent Poet acted as Librettist and skillfully arranged, edited and supplemented those poems where only a few lines existed.

The Song Cycle… Read more

Magical and Mystical Viola Gems and a major viola concerto, 23 April 2012

This is a most wonderful CD. The Vaughan Williams pieces are both magical and mystical and the concerto by John Blackwell McEwan is not only on a large scale but one of the best in the repertoire. As these pieces may be unfamiliar and you may be wishing to "dip your toe into the water of something a bit different", I will outline the works in the order they occur on the disc.

Vaughan Williams Suite for Viola and Small Orchestra (25.5 minutes)

There are eight separate element in three Groups:

Group 1
Prelude - majestic and uplifting - the viola really soars.
Carol - beautiful but more reflective.
Christmas Dance - lively and more… Read more