Fast Piano

Edward Gregson is best known for his dazzling orchestral works and music for brass and wind bands, but this recording of his complete piano works to date reminds us of his equally impressive catalogue of works for soloists and chamber ensembles. Gregson shows us a more intimate side in his piano music. From the Lullaby composed while a student, to the Tippett-inspired Piano Sonata, we are charmed, moved and thrilled in equal measure by this programme of his complete music for solo piano. This recording marks the debut of distinguished pianist Murray McLachlan on Naxos.

Hilding Rosenberg's two-movement first concerto was written for Sven Brandel and given to him (probably for appraisal). The work seems never to have been performed until 1992 shortly after it was discovered amongst Brandel's papers. The first movement is rhythmically active - torrentially so! There is, for me more than a touch of the convulsive martellato of Shostakovich's Piano Concertos 1 and 2 and the Khachaturyan Concerto-Rhapsody in this steam-hammer blizzard. There is some relief in the middle of the movement and here and there a reassuring ………

Rob Barnett @ Musicweb-international.com