William HURLSTONE
Trio in G Minor for clarinet, bassoon and piano.
Bassoon Sonata in F
Four Characteristic Pieces
Stephen Emmerson (piano)
Murray Khouri (Clarinet)
Peter Musson, Bassoon.
Rec 1999?
CONTINUUM CCD 1079 [52.08]
from D I Music Direct, 7 High Street, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1AX

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The death of William Hurlstone, aged just 30, in 1906 was, one suspects, a great loss to music in this country. This well played and recorded CD, from Australia, is – despite the fact that it is short measure, playing for a smidgen over 52 minutes –valuable for extending our knowledge of his music. That Hurlstone was a pianist may be heard in all three works and especially the Trio, which comprises a set of variations, an attractive Andante and a happy finale. The rather later (1900) Bassoon Sonata exploits the instrument’s lyrical qualities rather than its comic ones, particularly in the first three of its four movements. The Four Characteristic Pieces (Ballade, Croon Song, Intermezzo, Scherzo), which have perhaps survived better than most Hurlstone, are splendidly written for clarinet as well as for piano, of course.

Strongly recommended.

Philip Scowcroft

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