YORK BOWEN: The Complete Works for Viola & Piano = Viola Sonata No 1 in C minor; Romance in D flat major; Fantasia for four violas; Piano Sonata No 14 ‘Moonlight’; Phantasy in F major; more – Lawrence Power, viola/Simon Crawford-Phillips, p. – Hyperion

by | Jul 18, 2008 | Classical CD Reviews | 0 comments

YORK BOWEN: The Complete Works for Viola & Piano = Viola Sonata No 1 in C minor, Op. 18; Romance in D flat major;  Fantasia for four violas, Op. 41 No 1 (with Philip Dukes, James Boyd, & Scott Dickinson); Piano Sonata No 14 in C sharp minor ‘Moonlight’, Op. 27 No 2 (1: Adagio sostenuto) Beethoven arr. Bowen; Phantasy in F major, Op. 54; Viola Sonata No 2 in F major, Op. 22; Romance in A major;  Allegro de concert;  Melody for the G string, Op. 47; Melody for the C string, Op. 51 No 2 – Rhapsody in G minor – Lawrence Power, viola/ Simon Crawford-Phillips, piano – Hyperion CDA67651/2 (2 CDs), 121:13 total ***** [Distr. by Harmonia mundi]:

York Bowen (1884-1961) was a contemporary of Arnold Bax, Benjamin Dale and Montague Phillips at the Royal Academy of Music at the turn of the 20th century. While interest in Bax’s music has been continuous, only in recent years have Bowen, Dale and Phillips had their music re-examined. Bowen was a very fine pianist, organist, horn and viola player, this last due to the presence of the great Lionel Tertis on the RAM staff.

Tertis was very keen for the viola to be heard as a solo instrument and influenced and encouraged contemporary composers, especially those mentioned above, to add to the repertoire. Hyperion’s issue of Bowen’s music for piano (CDA66838) certainly helped to rekindle interest in this composer, and now we have his complete works for viola and piano on a 2-CD set.

Bowen was so highly thought of in his younger years he was described as “The English Rachmaninov” and was well regarded by Saint-Saens and Sorabji; he wrote for Dennis Brain, Beatrice Harrison (she who performed Elgar’s cello concerto under Elgar), Leon Goossens and Carl Dolmetsch among others, and made the first recording of Beethoven’s fourth piano concerto. His writing remained romantic and fell out of fashion by the 1920s; he didn’t revolutionise his composing in the manner Bridge did with his adventurous piano sonata.

The two sonatas presented here are substantial works and deserve to stand alongside Elgar’s and Delius’ violin sonatas. Bowen was a mere 20 years old when he wrote the first, and the second followed very soon afterwards in 1906. Both were received very well indeed, Tertis describing the first as “vivacious and light-hearted”, the second making even more virtuoso demands on the viola player. The piano parts, too, are beautifully written, and are very far from being mere accompaniments.

The collection includes the first movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata with viola obbligato, possibly a student piece, and completed by Lawrence Power. The single movement works range from short salon pieces to the quite substantial Phantasy and Rhapsody which end each CD. Of great interest is the piece written for an ensemble of violas, the Fantasia for Four Violas; composed in 1907  It was first performed by Tertis and his pupils, including Eric Coates playing second viola. The sound is quite delicious, the piece quite delightful. Benjamin Dale, Bowen’s friend and contemporary, and an internee at the Ruhleben, Berlin with Edgar Bainton and Ernest MacMillan for the whole of the First World War, also wrote for viola ensemble, an Introduction and Andante for six violas. Not included in this collection are two pieces, the Fantasia for viola and organ, and Poem for viola, harp and organ, which it is hoped will appear at some stage soon.

Lawrence Power, surely one of the finest viola players of today, and Simon Crawford-Phillips play magnificently and as one in this excellent survey of Bowen’s works for viola and piano. Hyperion’s recording, made at Potton Hall, is outstanding, and the set is recommended without reservation.

TrackLists:

CD1:
Viola Sonata No 1 in C minor 
1 1: Allegro moderato [10:22]  
2 2: Poco lento e cantabile [7:30]  
3 3: Finale. Presto – Allegro molto [7:47]  
4 Romance in D flat major [6:28]  
5 Fantasia for four violas, Op 41 No 1 [9:42]  
   
Piano Sonata No 14 in C sharp minor ‘Moonlight’
Beethoven, arr. York Bowen
6 1: Adagio sostenuto [5:40] 
7 Phantasy in F major, Op 54 [13:32]

CD2:  
Viola Sonata No 2 in F major 
1 1: Allegro assai [10:34]  
2 2: Grave – Allegro – Tempo I – Tranquillo [8:43]  
3 3: Finale. Allegro giocoso [6:20]  

4 Romance in A major [5:50]  
5 Allegro de concert [7:49]
6 Melody for the G string, Op 47 [3:53]  
7 Melody for the C string, Op 51 No 2 [3:48]  
8 Rhapsody in G minor [13:15] 

— Peter Joelson

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