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IRISH FANTASY

Sir Hamilton Harty
Irish Fantasy . Sir Charles Villiers Stanford Irish Fantasies, (6) Irish Sketches: Boat Song. Reel op.54. Melody op.153. Reel op.15 Howard Ferguson Sonata No.2 Trad.  Derry Air, Lark in the clear air, Coolin, Silent, O'Moyle, (The) last rose of summer
Fionnuala Hunt (violin); Una Hunt (piano)
CONTINUUM CCD 1051 midprice
Crotchet
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Photo from Irish Chamber Orchestra

This disc has been around for some time but is still available and happily so, as it gives us an attractive selection of Irish violin/piano music, well played and recorded. The major work is Howard Ferguson's Second Violin Sonata of 1946, superbly written and engagingly lyrical. For the rest we have four short Stanford pieces (two Reels, Boat Song and the ingratiating Melody), and arrangements of Irish airs by the Wexford-born T.C. Kelly (1917-1985), Michele Esposito (Italian-born, but contributing much around 1900 to Dublin's music) and Havelock Nelson. The title piece, by Harty, published in 1912, also appears to use traditional material. The booklet notes are by the late John Bishop. Recommended for relaxed listening.

Philip Scowcroft.

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