York Bowen went to the Music Room at Burnham, Buckinghamshire to record an LP’s worth of his music for Richard Itter’s young label, Lyrita, in 1960; this was reissued on CD for the first time quite recently and contains some of Bowen’s excellent preludes. Those were Bowen’s first recordings since 1927, surprising considering his standing as a recitalist.
With the renewed interest in Bowen’s work, this collection from APR is to be welcomed as it gathers together on 2 CDs all of Bowen’s shellac inscriptions. His recording of Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto was the first on disc, made in 1925. The conductor, Stanley Chapple (1900-1987), had an illustrious early career; conductor of the LSO at 21, guest conductor around Europe including the Berlin Philharmonic in 1930 and Aeolian’s music director. Finding himself in Boston in 1939, he remained in the US, becoming Tanglewood’s first director with Bernstein his first pupil in 1940. After a career conducting in Seattle he became Director of Music at Washington University in 1962; after retiring he conducted the Musicians’ Emeritus Symphony Orchestra (formed from retired players wishing to continue playing) and Thalia Orchestra in Seattle, and is remembered as a well-loved, charismatic and inspirational teacher.
The concerto displays Bowen’s talents clearly, though listeners may well be surprised by his cadenzas which were very much a product of their times. A recording rather forgotten due to its coming at the end of the acoustic era, its return sheds light on performances of a time long gone. The recorded balance is surprisingly good, and the Aeolian Orchestra plays well enough.
The solo works consist of a mixture of acoustic and electrical recordings, the former sounding quite well. Bowen certainly had a presence, exemplified in the Chopin and Liszt in particular. However, it is for the recordings of his own music that this issue is valuable, especially as Bowen speaks his own introductions to the two Hans Andersen pieces, another window on the past.
Bowen was often referred to as “The English Rachmaninov”; at last modern listeners have more of an opportunity to judge his work for themselves. The playing may not be quite as big-boned as the Russian’s, and the compositions not quite so instantly recognisable; however, there is much to be gained from listening to this historic set.
APR’s presentation is excellent as always with full recording details and an excellent essay by Jonathan Summers. Mastering for this release has been done by Ward Marston who has worked miracles on the transfers.
TrackLists:
CD1
1-3. BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No 4 in G major Op. 58 recorded 1925 Aeolian Orchestra / Stanley Chapple
4. BACH Partita No 2 in C minor BWV826 Capriccio recorded 1923?
5. BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major Op. 27 No. 1: Andante recorded 1923?
6-7. BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata No. 24 in F sharp major Op. 78 recorded 1927
8. SCHUMANN Faschingsschwank aus Wien Op. 26: Allegro recorded 1926
9. LISZT Années de pèlerinage, première année – Suisse S160: Eglogue recorded 1925
10. MOSCHELES Etude Op. 70 No. 5 recorded 1925
11. COCHRANE Le Ruisseau recorded 1925
12. BRAHMS Capriccio in B minor Op. 76 No. 2 recorded 1925
13. MENDELSSOHN Scherzo in E minor Op. 16 No. 2 released January 1915
14. SCHÜTT Etude Mignonne in D major Op. 16 No. 1 released January 1915
CD2
1. CHOPIN Ballade No. 3 in A flat major Op. 47 recorded1925
2. Scherzo No 2 in B flat minor Op. 31 recorded 1926
3. Waltz in A flat major Op. 34 No. 1 recorded 1926
4. Polonaise in C sharp minor Op. 26 No. 1 recorded 1926
5. Etude in E minor Op. 25 No. 5 recorded 1927
6-8. Twenty-Four Preludes Op. 28: Nos. 23; 20; 3 recorded 1927
9. RACHMANINOV Prelude Op. 23 No. 5 G minor recorded 1926
10. Polichinelle Op. 3 No. 4 recorded 1925
11. DEBUSSY Estampes: Jardins sous la pluie recorded 1925
12. Arabesque No. 2 in G major recorded 1926
13-14. GARDINER Five Pieces: III. London Bridge; V. Gavotte recorded 1926
15. BOWEN Suite No. 2 Op. 30: Finale ‘A Romp’ recorded 1925
16. BOWEN The Way to Polden, An Ambling Tune, Op. 76 recorded 1925
17. BOWEN Arabesque Op. 20 No. 1 recorded 1925
18. BOWEN Fragments from Hans Andersen Op. 58 Thumbalina; The Windmill recorded 1926 (with spoken introductions)
— Peter Joelson
