Simon Callaghan, Clare Howick - Entente musicale (2021)

Tracklist

01. Violin Sonata in B Major, RT VIII/3: I. Allegro con brio
02. Violin Sonata in B Major, RT VIII/3: II. Andante molto tranquillo
03. Violin Sonata in B Major, RT VIII/3: III. Allegro con moto
04. Cherry Ripe
05. Valse caprice, Op. 74 No. 7 (Arr. A.W. Kramer for Violin & Piano)
06. Violin Sonata in G Minor, L. 140: I. Allegro vivo
07. Violin Sonata in G Minor, L. 140: II. Intermède. Fantasque et léger
08. Violin Sonata in G Minor, L. 140: III. Finale. Très animé
09. Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera, M. 51 (Arr. J. Heifetz for Violin & Piano)
10. Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Minor: I. Allegro leggiadro
11. Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Minor: II. Romance
12. Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Minor: III. Rondo
13. Mediterranean (Arr. J. Heifetz for Violin & Piano)



Perhaps no composer embodied the new spirit of comradeship and collaboration between England and France more enthusiastically than the Bradford-born, Paris-domiciled Frederick Delius. His Sonata in B major offers a becoming portrait of the then 30-year-old composer; youthfully dramatic with a growing virtuosity and vigour that makes it seem, as Robert Matthew-Walker notes in his erudite booklet notes, like the “extended and manifestly symphonic composition” it is.
Composed at the same age, John Ireland’s breakthrough First Violin Sonata combines Edwardian elegance with a hint of French Impressionism gleaned from Debussy – whose late, last Violin Sonata in G minor is a work of profoundly-expressed emotions – and Ravel, whose Pièce en forme de habanera is hauntingly memorable.

While resident in Paris in the early years of the last century, Cyril Scott enjoyed cordial relations with Ravel and Debussy, who particularly admired his music. His Valse Caprice and arrangement of Cherry Ripe infuse well-mannered salon pieces with lithe French elegance. Similarly so, Arnold Bax’s ever-popular picture-postcard Mediterranean in its vivacious arrangement by Jascha Heifetz.

Clare Howick and Simon Callaghan’s "British Violin Sonatas" was hailed by MusicWeb International as a “fascinating collection of works, expertly performed with unalloyed musicality and commitment”.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac]