Ronald Center: Instrumental and Chamber Music, Volume Three
Ronald Center (1913–73) is sometimes described as ‘the Scottish Bartók’, and his music does indeed capture some of the wild energy of the Scottish landscape in a style of Bartókian asperity. It also shows affinities with the music of Busoni, Debussy, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Vaughan Williams, absorbed into an individual style that is audibly Scots. Center was essentially a miniaturist, his meticulous craftsmanship allowing him to encompass a range of emotions – heart-felt sorrow, grim humour, relaxed lyricism, dark despair – in a crisp and succinct manner, animated by sharp wit and irony. Many of the works recorded here also show off his skill as a contrapuntist and one, surprisingly, is a rumba.
Tamás Fejes, violin
Balázs Renczés, cello
Christopher Guild, piano
Listen To This Recording:
Sonata for Violin and Piano (13:03)
-
Audio Player
- I. Allegro (3:43) Audio Player
- II. Andante con espressione (4:29) Audio Player
- III. Allegro feroce (4:51)
-
Audio Player
- Little Canon* (0:54) Audio Player
- Duet* (2:24)
Giglot and Toccata (publ. 1988)* (2:58)
-
Audio Player
- Rumba (Giglot) (2:07) Audio Player
- Toccata (1:21)
From Childhood (publ. 1988)* (2:58)
-
Audio Player
- Merry-go-round (0:40) Audio Player
- The Bogey-man (0:49) Audio Player
- Doll’s Waltz (0:50) Audio Player
- March (0:39)
-
Audio Player
- Burlesca* (3:37)
Suite for Piano (13:25)
-
Audio Player
- I. Allegro molto* (5:15) Audio Player
- II. Andante (Children at Play) (6:00) Audio Player
- III. Allegro vivace* (2:10)
-
Audio Player
- Phantasy (1940)* (7:18) Audio Player
- Melodie (1942)* (2:25)
Seven Preludes* (9:56)
-
Audio Player
- Allegro (1:00) Audio Player
- Poco adagio (1:55) Audio Player
- Vivace (0:49) Audio Player
- Andante (1:07) Audio Player
- Allegro (1:59) Audio Player
- Lento (1:55) Audio Player
- Molto allegro (energico) (1:11)
Prelude and Fugue in E* (3:18)
-
Audio Player
- Prelude. Allegretto (1:14) Audio Player
- Fugue. Allegro moderato (2:04)
Prelude and Fugue in G-Sharp* (2:12)
-
Audio Player
- Prelude (1:02) Audio Player
- Fugue (1:10)
Prelude and Fugue in A* (4:56)
-
Audio Player
- Prelude. Allegro molto (2:15) Audio Player
- Fugue. Allegro ma non troppo (2:41)
Prelude, Aria and Finale* (7:59)
-
Audio Player
- Prelude. Allegro (2:01) Audio Player
- Aria. Allegro (2:37) Audio Player
- Finale. Poco adagio – Allegro (3:21)
*First Recordings
MusicWeb International :
‘The music is immensely impressive and will surely enhance Center’s status as a composer of real significance. […] One word which can be applied to the entire disc is “energy”, creative and physical. […]
So what of the performances? They are excellent, thoroughly idiomatic and responsive to the variety of mood. The piano sound has depth as well as immediacy and Guild’s handling is always totally assured. […]
So hats off to Christopher Guild for steering an intriguing course through a whirlpool of inventiveness. ‘
—John Purser, MusicWeb International