Ronald Stevenson: Piano Music, Volume Three
The Scottish composer Ronald Stevenson (1928–2015) was a virtuoso concert pianist in the tradition of Beethoven, Liszt and Rachmaninov but, like his friend Percy Grainger, he was also fascinated by the folk musics of the world. This third album of his piano music juxtaposes his arrangements of Celtic – Breton, Cornish, Irish, Manx, Scots and Welsh – folk-songs and dances with his Chinese and Ghanaian Folk-Song Suites and his resourceful transcription of Grainger’s visionary Hill Song No. 1 for wind band, here realised as an expansive tone-poem for the piano.
Christopher Guild, piano
Listen To This Recording:
- African Twi-Tune: The Bantu and Akrikaaner National Hymns Combined (1964)*
- Hill Song No. 1
- I Harp of Gold (Y Delyn Aur): Welsh Air (Broad, bardic)
- II The Ash Grove (Lwyn On): Welsh Air (Allegretto)
- III Hal-an-tow: The Floral Dance from Helston, Cornwall (Allegro)
- IV A Fairy’s Love Song: Hebridean Air (Moderato)
- V The Sheep under the Snow: Manx Air (Andante)
- VI Savourneen Deelish: Irish Gaelic Air (Fairly slowly)
- VII The Cockle-gatherer: Hebridean Dance-song (Allegretto)
- VIII Tune from County Derry: Irish Air (Slowly)
- IX Eriskay Love-Lilt: Hebridean Air (Andante, accarezzante (caressingly))
- X Ben Dorain: Scottish Gaelic Air (Moderato maestoso)
- XI La Basse-Breton: Folk Dance from Brittany (Allegro)
- XII The Old Womans Reel: Folk Dance from Barra, Outer Hebrides (Not fast but fairly sprightly (remember its an old womans dance))
- XIII LAngelus Breton: Folksong from Brittany (Andante amabile (gently))
- XIV The Child Christs Lullaby: Hebridean Carol from South Uist (Andante)
- I The Washer-woman and the Flower-girl (Con moto tranquillo)
- II A Song for New Years Day (Andante)
- III The War-widows Lament (Lento)
- IV Beautiful Fresh Flower (Allegretto)
- V Song of the Crab-fisher (Allegro con spirito)
- I Song of Valour
- II Consolation
- III Leopard Dance
- Bonny at Morn (15 Novemer 1990)*
- The High Road to Linton (April 1978)*
- Barra Flyting Toccata (April 1980)*
GRAINGER transcr. STEVENSON (1960)
Sounding Strings (1979)*
Chinese Folk-Song Suite (May 1965)*
Ghanaian Folk-Song Suite (1965)*
*FIRST RECORDING
MusicWeb International :
‘Christopher Guild’s playing – which we are already accustomed to – is brilliant as to both affecting poetry and blood-stirring fire.’
—Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International
MusicWeb International :
‘I cannot fault the brilliant playing by Christopher Guild. He clearly has a great sympathy for Ronald Stevenson’s eclectic musical style. The playing is always luminous, often moving and never sentimental. The liner notes, written by the pianist are excellent. They present a major essay length discussion of the music and composer, complete with useful footnotes. […]
This is an outstanding further exploration of Ronald Stevenson’s piano music. I look forward to succeeding volumes of this project with considerable enthusiasm.’
—John France, MusicWeb International
MusicWeb International :
‘Throughout this disc, Christopher Guild is excellent. He might be supposed not have the same insight into the music as Hamilton, who studied with the composer, but this does not come over in his playing. Both pianists have a lot to offer. He has also written the detailed and copious booklet essay that accompanies this recording, as he has with other recordings in the series. They considerably aid the listener’s understanding of the music. The recording is blessed with Toccata’s usual high standard of recorded sound, making this a very desirable disc.’
—Stuart Sillitoe, MusicWeb International