This is both an enterprising and welcome disc in Metier’s highly commendable series of British piano music. Let it be said at once that Graham Caskie is an extraordinarily fine pianist and he is a name to watch with eager expectancy. He did study Tippett’s Sonata No 3 with the composer and his performance brings out a wealth of detail.

I think that all reviewers should be totally honest and declare themselves. I am not particularly espoused to the music of Sir Michael Tippett. A fellow professional once expressed it thus, "Sir Michael Tippett is a far greater musician than he is a composer." This sonata seems to highlight one of the interesting features of his music. The bi-linear quality of his music has the clarity of Bach’s keyboard suites and yet the mature style of late Beethoven features in the outer movements. The continuity of these two allegros is hindered by losses of momentum and the central slow movement is longer than the two outer movements combined. It is my opinion that this lento has no obvious sense of progression and is the composer searching for a style. The music has no depth of substance, no sense of drama as in Beethoven and there are numerous hints of Debussy. If the outer movements have a baroque/classical feel about them then this movement belongs to the impressionists.

But in this sonata there are tremendous moments of skill and inspiration and if I grow to admire this important work it may be largely due to this very fine performance.

John McCabe, himself a very fine pianist, is represented on this disc by his Fantasy on a theme of Liszt written in 1967. It is based on the opening twelve note theme of Liszt’s unjustly neglected Faust Symphony. McCabe’s piece shows the difference between a composer and a composer who is also an excellent pianist. This is a brilliant virtuoso work of real excitement and is totally satisfying. I have already ordered a copy of the score.

When I wrote my biographical essay about Paul Patterson some years ago (available on this website) I was very scathing about some of his pieces although I greatly admire many others - the Canterbury Psalms, the Symphony, the Concerto for orchestra and the exemplary music for brass. I sent a copy of my article to Paul expecting no reply or some objection. But he replied graciously and said he enjoyed the article. To me, that displayed the correct attitude and it reminded me of the unanswerable question: Do decent and honourable composers write, or have the capacity to write the best quality music?

I think it is a pity that a composer such as Patterson is called an eclectic because he is skilled in many styles. A Tunnel of Time is a transcription of his harp piece Spiders Op 48. This three movement work is very successful because of both its content and contrasts and has, in turn, a glowing mysticism and a splendid toccata which even ‘lapsed pianists’ like myself cannot fail to admire.

Nigel Clarke was born in 1960 and studied at RAM. His Solstice was inspired by pagan rites, Stonehenge and other ancient sites. It is in three sections: fast, slow, fast. Both outer movements are marked con fuoco and contain some breathtaking music. As with the Tippett, but less so, I sometimes feel that the music’s momentum is lost but if that needs to be forgiven it is when one considers the staggering and compelling music that unfolds.

This is a rewarding disc and further proof, although it is not necessary, that there is a very great deal of fine modern music; and the minority who regard Elgar and Holst as modern composers and that nothing after 1934 should even be considered as being of any value are showing both their prejudice and ignorance!

The sleeve notes are adequate and the recorded sound is both bright and acceptable.

Reviewer

David Wright

Performances

Recording

David Wright

Performances

Recording