Sir Lennox Berkeley (1903-89) is now in danger of becoming best known as
his son Michael's father! He was an expert practitioner of the craft of
composition, his skills honed in France by Nadia Boulanger. He became a close
friend and colleague of the younger genius Benjamin Britten (they composed
Mont Juic jointly!) and was overshadowed by him in later years.
This is a well-selected programme of works for varied combinations ranging
from solo violin to a wind/strings sextet, and composed between 1927 and
1971. It plays well in sequence, which I always like to think is a significant
consideration.
For this CD, the Endymion Ensembles fields Krysia Osostowicz (violin) Jane
salmon (cello) Melinda Maxwell (oboe) Michael Dussek (piano) with several
other players participating. Well played and recorded throughout and well
worth exploring.
Reviewer
Peter Grahame Woolf
Web-sites: Lennox Berkeley
Michael Berkeley
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Three more Duttons:
John Ireland - Violin Sonata No1 :Violin
Sonata No2* : Phantasie Trio in A minor : The Holy Boy :
Albert Sammons (Vln) : John Ireland (piano)* Nov 1945
Frederick Grinke (vln) : John Ireland (piano) Oct 1930
Frederick Grinke : Florence Hooton : Kenneth Taylor : Nov 1938
Florence Hooton : Laurence Pratt Nov 1938
CSDLX
7103 Ireland website
The Romantic Cello
Hubert Parry - Cello Sonata in A
William Hurlstone - Cello Sonata in D
Hamilton Harty - Romance & Scherzo
op 8 : Waldestille : Schmetterling
Andrew Fuller : Michael Dussek
CDLX
7102
Edmund Rubbra Violin Sonata No 1 op11
: Violin Sonata No 2 op 31 : Violin Sonata op133 : Four Pieces op 29 : Variations
on a Phrygian Theme for solo violin op105
Krysia Osostowicz (vln) Michael Dussek (piano)
CDLX
7101 Rubbra website
Four marvellous recordings of English chamber music from Dutton Laboritories
Epoch Series that deserve to be snapped up at the earliest chance, not just
by English music fans but by all who appreciate great chamber music playing.
Three of the recordings use members of the Endymion Ensemble, whilst the
other is of considerable historical interest being John Ireland accompanying
two of Britains most notable violinists of the past in his own music.
Civilized and elegent are words that are often used to describe the music
of Sir Lennox Berkeley. By no means particularly negative adjectives and
by no means untrue, but there is much more to the music than that. His chamber
music is particularly beautifully crafted, some such as the early "Petite
Suite" shows the french influence (another descriptive term that dogged
Berkeley's composing career), but later works such as the Oboe Quartet and
the Duo show a much more serious voice - adapting his own very personal brand
of serialism (something like Frank Martin )and motivic development.
The Sextet (for clarinet, horn and string quartet) is one of the very best
chamber works and worth the price of the CD alone. The playing is excellent
throughout.
The Ireland CD shows the composer in fine form as pianist - sadly Ireland
made very few commercial recordings, being very unsure of his abilities -
these recordings however show a fine command of the instrument and a very
clear understanding of what he wanted from his own music. It will come as
no suprise to learn that the 1930 recording is not ideal, but it does get
better as it goes along and with such remarkable and valuable documents one
has to make allowances.
The Romantic Cello heralds a major discovery - the Parry Cello Sonata is
a major work on a symphonic scale and shows the young composer flexing his
muscles and enthusiastically takling in and digesting the Wagnerian influence.
William Hurlstone died tragically young at 30 without reaching his full potential
- the Cello Sonata, whilst not a major work is well crafted and certainly
warrants occasional hearing. The final delights in the disc are salon pieces
in the manner of Elgar's "Chanson de matin" - they are melodic, witty and
sparkling and show a hitherto undiscovered side to Hamilton Harty. Andrew
Fuller has a strong, full tone and Michael Dussek, as in all these discs
is the fine accompanist.
The biggest discovery for me in these recordings is the disc of Violin Sonatas
by Edmund Rubbra. As we approach Rubbra's centenary (2001) it has been good
to note the new interest in his work, not least in Richard Hickox's fine
series of symphonic works. As for this disc, at least one work (Sonata 2)
is an undoubted masterpiece and is quite able to hold up its head proudly
with the best of other such works written this century.
The other works come from opposite ends of Rubbra's career and are equally
worth investigating - as fillers there are a short series of resourceful
variations and four charming educational pieces. It is a complete mystery
as to why this music does not get heard - the performances could not be bettered
- if this is not amongst the CD's of the year in 2000 there is not justice.
Reviewer
David Wordsworth
Endymion
Ensemble 
