Henze’s Violin Sonata is part of ‘Etude Philharmonique’, an album of major works for solo violin by leading modern composers including Naji Hakim, David Matthews and Dmitri Smirnov. Performed by Peter Sheppard Shærved, it is a tour de force of skilful and virtuosic musicianship.

"...this is a fascinating collection, the spaciousness of the recording serving to underline Sheppard Skærved's luminous clarity of tone." – BBC Music Magazine

Hans Werner Henze: Violin Sonata – 1 - Tirsi

The first recordings of these powerful yet little known quartets by Roberto Gerhard, in a highly praised performance by the Kreutzer Quartet – Peter Sheppard Shærved and Gordon MacKay (violins), Bridget Carey (viola) and Neil Heyde (cello).

“Metier are again to be commended for their exploration of neglected repertoire... Powerful Performances of astonishingly neglected quartets.” – Classic CD

Roberto Gerhard: String Quartet No. 2 – Part 5

The music of Charles Avison, the great English composer and organist, has been neglected for too long and we are delighted to offer the first recording on authentic instruments of these fine concerti.

These pieces were written to be played in various ways; as chamber concerti with continuo in the baroque style; as works for solo keyboard; or as string quartets, as such being the earliest English examples of that genre. On this disc the opportunity is taken to present individual concerti with either harpsichord or chamber organ continuo, or without either. The entire op. 9 set is played in the version for larger ensemble on divine art dda21211

Preformed by The Georgian Concert, led by Simon Jones and directed by Peter Harrison. Found on Avison: Concertos, op. 9.

Avison Opus 9 Concertos

Avison: Concertos, op. 9

Charles Avison: Concerto Grosso, op. 9 no. 4 in G minor - Aria Andante

In the third of a series of CD's containing Galuppi's sonatas, we present another eight of these masterpieces. All music lovers should sample these seminal works, which made Galuppi one of the greatest composers of his day;all the more strange that he should have fallen into such obscurity. All the sonatas on this disc are unpublished and have been reconstructed for performance by Peter Seivewright from the original manuscripts.

Peter Seivewright has spent a good deal of time on a research mission to Venice and other European cities, retrieving the unpublished manuscript scores and preparing performing editions.  One of the great revelations brought about by this work is that Galuppi, far from being a straightforward baroque composer writing for the traditional keyboard instruments (harpsichord and clavichord), which have been employed in all previous recordings, actually waited until the piano had been developed before creating most of his phenomenal output. Many of the original manuscripts are titled "Sonata for Pianoforte", and much of the writing, making substantial use of the sustain pedal, simply do not work on the earlier instruments.

Preformed by Peter Steivewright. Found on Galuppi Complete Piano Sonatas, volume 3.

Galuppi Complete Piano Sonatas, volume 3

Baldassare Galuppi: Piano Sonata in D major - Allegro deciso

On this CD we present works by three well-known modern composers, Iannis Xenakis, Michael Finnissy and Morton Feldman, together with pieces by three young British composers whose work deserves more recognition. Philip Howard is a pianist of extraordinary talent, who copes with the fierce demands of these works with aplomb. Music by Paul Newland and Paul Whitty can also be found on divine art 29001. 

Performed by Philip Howard. Found on Decoding Skin.

Decoding Skin

Iannis Xenakis: Evryali

Mozart’s Wind Serenades are among his most joyful and melodious compositions, and this fine performance by the young musicians of the EUCO Wind Octet certainly displays the exuberance and high spirits of the young composer. The Gran Partita K. 361, needs little introduction, being so popular. Its seven movements make it one of Mozart’s most extended chamber works. 

K. 375, in E major, has an interesting history revealed in the album booklet. Originally written for sextet, Mozart revised it for Octet, but when the score was published, it was found that the second minuet had been omitted, and a spurious bar added. This is the first recording (as far as we know) of the Octet version as Mozart intended.

 Santiago Mantas has toured over thirty countries as both conductor and concert pianist, and is also a successful composer of music for feature films and documentaries. He has been preparing a performing edition of Schumann’s Fourth Piano Sonata of which the sketches were recently discovered.

Performed by European Union Chamber Orchestra. Found on Mozart: Serenades for Wind Instruments.

Mozart: Serenades for Wind Instruments

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Serenade in B flat major, K. 361 - VII. Molto allegro

The music of John R Williamson, a composer from Manchester, England, is deserving of greater recognition. Murray McLachlan is a champion of Williamson's music and presents the second of a series of 3 CDs in which his stylistic and virtuosic playing enhances further the individuality of these works. The final piece on the disc, 'Lament for Sarah', is played by the composer.

Performed by Murray McLachlan. Found on John R. Williamson: Music for Piano, vol. 2.

John R. Williamson: Music for Piano, vol. 2

John R. Williamson: Seven Interval Studies - No. 4: 4ths in A

Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877-1952) was born in the Ukraine, spent time in Germany and became an Austrian citizen but always remained truly Russian at heart, and as such is a true successor of the Romantic tradition of Tchaikovksy. Only recently has his music found popularity in the west, which is very strange since, as a contemporary of Rachmaninov, his music has every wonderful characteristic of the popular romantic genre.

Alfonso Soldano is professor of piano performance at the Braga Conservatory in Teramo, Italy. He was a student of Ciccolini and is renowned for his virtuosity. He was awarded the International Gold Medal for ‘Best Italian Artist’ in 2013 and has won many other compositions. He is also the biographer of Bortkiewicz, and has therefore studied this music in great depth, and has produced magical performances.

Performed by Alfonso Soldano. Found on Russian Piano Music, volume 12 - Sergei Bortkiewicz.

Russian Piano Music, volume 12 - Sergei Bortkiewicz

Sergei Bortkiewicz: Trios Morceaux, Op. 24 - No. 1 Nocturne

David Earl is a fine British composer whose music is at once traditional in its tonality but also absolutely individual and distinctive.  This is the first recording of his Cello Sonata, played by cellist George Corbett with James Sherlock (piano);  the composer himself performs his exotic Piano Suite no. 3, a musical representation of Buddhist mandalas. 

Performed by David Earl. Found on Music by David Earl.

Music by David Earl

David Earl: Piano Suite no.3 'Mandalas' - II. Quasi allegro: flames

A feast of music by the late Roy Heaton Smith includes chamber works for clarinet, recorder and viola, solo piano music, string quartets and songs all bubbling with inspiration and freedom of expression and style, in excellent performances from top Manchester (UK) musicians.

As a bonus we include a recording made from a radio broadcast in 1958. This was recorded from an AM brodacast off-air to an acetate disc which became damaged; Richard Scott has done wonders to make it not just playable but in decent sound balance too, and it remains the only recording of Smith's fine Divertimento.

Performed by John Turner (recorder), Alistair Vennart (viola), Linda Merrick (clarinet). Found on Opening the Door.

Opening the Door

Heaton Smith: Three Bagatelles, Op. 46 - No. 1 Scherzo

From the pen of celebrated Theater composer Philip Henderson comes a concept album based on the true story of his father's journey in the 1930s from rural Kent to New York. Expressed in music that follows the story, from pastoral string ensemble, to the excitement and bustle of an Atlantic cargo vessel, to the buzz of Broadway where our hero, represented by a cor anglais, plays against the now-synthezised strings of the city. 

Featuring:
Bollywood actress and producer Pia Sukanya (vocal on New York Sing Me!) *
West End singing star Paul Baker
George Strickland (cor anglais)
Jacob Shaw (cello)

Found on From the Old World to the New World.

From the Old World to the New World

Philip Henderson: The Magic Wood - I. The Magic Wood by Day

Peter Hope is an English composer whose name is not well known to the public, but some of his music certainly is. A veteran of the light music genre, he has been a fulltime composer and arranger for 50 years, working for many years with the BBC Concert Orchestra – many of his arrangements becoming classics in their genre, also writing music for the marriage of the Crown Prince of Spain and many other public events. His theme tune for BBC TV news ran for over 11 years, known to practically every person in the UK. 

Since 2000 he has concentrated on more serious and extended compositions, though retaining a commercial sense of approachable style. This album features four wind sonatas and two other works, performed by instrumentalists of high calibre and renown. All the works are receiving the premiere recording and one, ‘A Walk with my Dog, Molly’ is being considered as the music for an animated film based on the music itself.

Performed by Richard (oboe) and Janet (piano) Simpson. Found on Wind Blown.

Wind Blown

Peter Hope: Sonata for Oboe and Piano - II. Vivace

Sacred choral works for the 21st century but steeped in the tradition and style of centuries past. Composer LYDIA KAKABADSE is English born but with roots in Greece, Austria, Russia and Georgia, all of which inspire her music which is a fluid mix of the western and Orthodox choral styles.

A perfect album for the choral music lover wanting a new sound but within traditional tonal (and modal) limits. 

Performed by former members of Clare College choir, who have gone on to their life-after-graduation, taking with them the Choir's excellent and ever-growing reputation as one of the finest English choirs of our day. Joined for 'Spectre' by mezzosoprano Grace Durham and instrumental ensemble.

Performed by Alumni of the Choir of Clare College Cambridge. Found on Cantica Sacra. 

Cantica Sacra

Lydia Kakabadse: Cantica Sacra - IV. Angelus

Written to be played by children perhaps, but not all these pieces are as simple as the title may suggest! Miniature modern masterpieces by some of the 20th century's greatest composers.
Raymond Clarke is an acknowledged master of the 20th century repertoire and his previous recordings have received immense praise. He has been described as "a staggering pianist of exceptional gifts"

Performed by Raymond Clarke. Found on Piano Music for Children.

Piano Music for Children

Aram Khachaturian: Pictures From Childhood - 9. A glimpse of the ballet

Diana Boyle's Mozart is special: recorded after years of deep thought and reflection on the spirit of the music, her touch is deft, light and delicate, well balanced and never disfigured by harshness. Fast passages trip along while the slower parts are wonderfully expressed. We believe this to be a landmark interpretation essential for even those who know (or think they know) these works inside out..

Performed by Diana Boyle. Found on Mozart: Sonatas.

Mozart: Sonatas

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Sonatas in G major, K. 283 - II. Andante

This album of contemporary works for solo voice with occasional electronics is a snapshot of all that is best in the world of new vocal music.
The six works by four composers are all different in every possible way, except that they are written for the solo voice. In each of these pieces, the exquisite soprano Elizabeth Hilliard demonstrates amazing virtuosity, vocal dexterity and amazing control over techniques such as microtones and lengthy glissandi.  

Two works are contributed each by leading English composer Christopher Fox, for whom these pieces are relatively less adventurous than his instrumental material, and by Irish composer Gráinne Mulvey: each a real modern masterpiece. Add music from Linda Buckley and David Bremner for an experience out of the ordinary, but still not inaccessible – in fact this type of programme might persuade many to investigate more modern music.

Each of the works is receiving its first recording.

Performed by Elizabeth Hilliard. Found on Sea to the West. 

Sea to the West

Grainne Mulvey: Eternity is now

This is the debut CD of young flutist Odinn Baldvinsson in which with the highly regarded Patricia Romero he gives fine interpretations of popular works for flute and piano.

Performed by Odinn Baldvinsson (flutist), and Patricia Romero (piano). Found on Cantilena.

Cantilena

Cantelina

Sergei Prokofiev: Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op. 94 - III. Andante

This is new music in every sense - avant-garde, yet essentially straightforward - music pared to its core, not minimalism but avoiding dense and detailed structures. The music has no ostentatious virtuosity but simple, ordinary sounds, mixed and repeated in evolving combinations, and in different ways in each piece, from the loop-building in Looping Busker Music, to the detuned strings of the solo guitar in Digger.

Performed by Marcus Barcham Stevens (violin), Oliver Coates (cello), Mark Knoop (paino). Found on Signs of Occupation.

Signs of Occupation

James Weeks: Three Trios - ll. February '11

Generally, John Williamson's songs are more traditional in style than his piano music and belong to that great tradition of English pastoral and lyric song exemplified by Warlock, Moeran, Finzi, Ireland, Vaughan Williams, Delius and many more very fine composers.However his style is individual and distinctive in its own right. These are heartfelt and most appropriate settings of poems of love, war, loss and regret and excellent additions to the canon of English song. Originally released as Dunelm DRD0265.

Performed by Mark Rowlinson (baritone), David Jones (piano). Found on Lads of Love and Sorrow.

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