Brytyjski kompozytor Lennox Berkeley (1903-1989) pozostawił po sobie szereg kompozycji na różne składy instrumentalne. Są wśród nich m.in. utwory na instrumenty skrzypcowe, organy, chór, oraz znana opera "Obiad zaręczynowy" ("Dinner Engagement").
Przyjaźniący się m.in. z Mauricem Ravelem i Benjaminem Brittenem (z którym wspólnie skomponował suitę "Mont Juic") Berkeley, czerpał inspirację z dorobku obu mistrzów, ale też takich twórców jak Mozart, Poulenc, Chopin i Strawiński.
Lennox Berkeley komponował też utwory na fortepian solo.
 |
| fot.Hoxa |
To właśnie komplet fortepianowych dzieł Berkeleya wypełnia 2-płytowy album znakomitego pianisty i kompozytora Douglasa Stevensa.
Muzyk na co dzień jest organistą w Kaplicy Wszystkich Świętych na zamku Wardour w Wiltshire, oraz artystą współpracującym z czołowymi brytyjskimi zespołami chóralnymi, takimi jak m.in. Bristol University Singers, Athenaeum Singers, Harry Ensemble czy The Erebus Ensemble.
Wydany pierwotnie w 2018 roku album "Lennox Berkeley - The Complete Piano Works", ukaże się ponownie 28 sierpnia nakładem wytwórni Hoxa.
Robert Ratajczak
____________________________________________
Douglas Stevens
Lennox Berkeley - The Complete Piano Works
2CD's 2018, Hoxa HS1806-18
program:
CD1
1. March
2. For Vere
3. Mr Pilkington’s Toye
Six Preludes opus 23:
4. Allegro
5. Andante
6. Allegro moderato
7. Allegretto
8. Allegro
9. Andante
Sonata for Piano opus 20:
10. Moderato
11. Presto
12. Adagio
13. Allegro
14. Concert Study in E flat opus 48, no.2
Three Pieces opus 2:
15. Etude
16. Berceuse
17. Capriccio
Prelude and Capriccio opus 95:
18. Prelude
19. Capriccio
20. Toccata
CD2
Three Impromptus opus 7:
1. Moderato
2. Andantino
3. Allegro
Piano Pieces:
4. I
5. II
6. III
Five Short Pieces opus 4:
7. I
8. II
9. III
10. IV
11. V
Four Concert Studies opus 24, no.1:
12. I
13. II
14. III
15. IV
Four Piano Studies opus 82:
16. I
17. II
18. III
19. IV
20. Paysage
Three Mazurkas (Hommage a Chopin) opus 32, no.1:
21. I
22. II
23. III
24. Scherzo opus 37, no.2
25. Mazurka opus 101, no.2
26. Improvisation on a Theme of Manuel de Falla opus 55, no.2
27. Polka opus 5 no.1(a)
Douglas Stevens - fortepian
____________________________________________
tekst prasowy:
Concept Overview
Sir Lennox Berkeley (1903-1989), one of the most versatile of twentieth-century English composers, wrote music in a wide variety of genres – his output includes four symphonies, four operas (plus the unfinished "Faldon Park"), three string quartets and numerous songs, choral pieces and works for solo piano. Sadly, he is only remembered for a fraction of this output, including the "Four Poems of St Teresa of Avila", the Missa Brevis, the Flute Sonatina and the Six Preludes for piano.
Born at Boars Hill, near Oxford, Berkeley studied composition in Paris with Nadia Boulanger after completing a degree at the University of Oxford. He married Freda Bernstein in 1946 and their three children include Michael Berkeley, himself a professional composer. Lennox Berkeley also retained a lasting friendship with Benjamin Britten, whom he first met at the ISCM Festival in Barcelona in 1936. Teaching at the Royal Academy of Music for over twenty years, Berkeley facilitated the training of many composers including William Mathias, John Tavener and Richard Rodney Bennett. Berkeley converted to Catholicism in 1928 and his faith had a significant impact on his music, leading to works such as the "Stabat Mater", the "Four Poems of St Teresa of Avila" and the two settings of the Mass; his film music includes that for "The Sword of the Spirit", depicting the struggle of Catholics during World War Two.
Berkeley’s music displays a wide variety of influences, from eighteenth-century Classicism through to the Romanticism of Fauré and Chopin, contemporary French music of the early twentieth century and Britten. Yet these influences are never heard as a ‘patchwork’ – the remarkable individuality of Berkeley’s style attests to the way these influences became amalgamated into a unique compositional approach.
Despite his relative obscurity Berkeley received many accolades in later life including a Knighthood and a papal Knighthood of St Gregory. A growing number of recordings of his music demonstrates a continuation of interest in his work and legacy.
Artist Biography
Dr Douglas Stevens studied music at the University of Bristol and continued his studies with a PhD focusing on the music of Lennox Berkeley, under Professor Stephen Banfield.
He is much sought after as an accompanist and has a wide repertory as a solo pianist.
Douglas has accompanied many choirs including Bristol University Singers, the Athenaeum Singers, the Harry Ensemble and The Erebus Ensemble.
As a composer Douglas has completed a large variety of works including a violin sonata, two piano sonatas and several songs.
He is Organist at the Chapel of All Saints at Wardour Castle in Wiltshire.
