£6.50
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A must for Bax fans and enthusiasts of 20th-century English music in general. | ||
—Edward Bhesania, The Strad (September 2013) |
Bax isn’t necessarily an easy composer to understand as a listener or performer, but this recording really brings to life the music and demonstrates that it’s repertoire that should be more widely known. Handy and Clayton together create a clear path to some really touching and affecting moments in the music. | ||
—Amazon review (April 2013) |
Bax’s Legend-Sonata, the major work featured on this disc, was written for Florence Hooton and was first performed by her in 1943. This CD was released to mark Florence Hooton’s centenary in 2012 and features her pupil, the acclaimed cellist Lionel Handy, accompanied by Nigel Clayton in a highly authoritative set of performances. Lionel is a long-serving professor at the Royal Academy of Music, teaches at the Birmingham Conservatoire and in summer schools throughout Europe, and has been guest principal with most leading UK orchestras. He writes:
The inspiration for this recording was the centenary of Florence Hooton in 2012. While studying at the Royal Academy of Music I was greatly encouraged by her dynamic teaching. Florence herself worked closely with many composers, and her rapport with Bax enabled her to pass on invaluable insights into interpreting his works.
—Lionel Handy
The CD is a particularly high-quality production: aside from its authoritative and well-recorded performances, no expense has been spared in its manufacture. It features a lavish 12-page booklet containing an essay by Lewis Foreman and a picture-disc, with full-colour printing throughout (see sample images and track samples below). A must for all Bax fans!
(Click to enlarge)
Composer | Title | Performer(s) | Total duration | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sir Arnold Bax | BAX: Works for Cello and Piano Lionel Handy, cello & Nigel Clayton, piano | Lionel Handy, ’Cello, Nigel Clayton, Piano | 01:05:58 | ||||
# | Composer | Work | Movement | Performer(s) | Duration | ||
1 | Sir Arnold Bax | Sonatina in D for cello and piano (1933) | I : Allegro risoluto | Lionel Handy, ’Cello, Nigel Clayton, Piano | 00:04:54 | ||
2 | II : Andante | 00:06:19 | |||||
3 | III : Moderato | 00:04:15 | |||||
4 | Rhapsodic Ballad for solo cello (1939) | Lionel Handy, ’Cello | 00:13:57 | ||||
5 | Folk-Tale for cello and piano (1918) | Lionel Handy, ’Cello, Nigel Clayton, Piano | 00:09:19 | ||||
6 | Legend-Sonata in F♯ minor for cello and piano (1943) | I : Allegro risoluto | 00:10:29 | ||||
7 | II : Lento espressivo | 00:08:45 | |||||
8 | III : Rondo: Allegro | 00:07:58 | |||||
Catalogue code: SLV1007 • Published: 23rd November 2012
Entry last updated: 26th April 2014