The core of this release comprises the two works by
Matthew Taylor. Born in 1964, he studied at Queens' College, Cambridge
with, amongst others, Robin Holloway and later at the Royal Academy
of Music with Edward Gregson, since when he has developed his skills
as pianist, conductor and composer, not least in the field of musical
education.
His compositions are becoming widely known and it is
good to have this sample of his instrumental music, finely played by
the composer with (in the Five Fantasy-Pieces) the distinguished
cellist Diane Porteous.
These Fantasy-Pieces (2002), inspired, though
in very general terms, by Schumann's Opus 73, also on the CD, are well
contrasted movements ranging from the lyricism of the fourth to the
moto perpetuo abandon (in which the pianist has little part)
of the last. The first two, alternatively thoughtful and mysterious,
both feature sustained cello writing with, apart from a few joyful peals
in the first, restrained writing for the piano.
Anniversaries and Intermezzi, for solo piano,
put together in 1999 and premièred in 2000, link three pieces
(one indeed titled Intermezzo), written for birthdays of Jessica
Duchen, Robin Holloway and Giles Easterbrook with three rather shorter
movements, two of them dances - a Tango with some very attractive
rhythms, and a decidedly restrained waltz, both quite serious within
their brief range - the other, even briefer, re-cycled from an early
cello concerto. The best is Intermezzo written for Robin Holloway;
the Prelude for Giles Easterbrook has some striking dissonances.
The disc is rounded off by the little known Sibelius
pieces Impromptu, Romance and Religioso, for cello and piano.
Sibelius has long been one of Miss Porteous's enthusiasms and these
are very welcome. I particularly enjoyed the almost salon-like yet glowingly
lyrical Romance (it brings to mind the late Sir Thomas Beecham
refuting the thesis that Sibelius's music was always "stark"). Religioso
is scarcely less lyrical.
Recording and presentation - the booklet notes are
by Mr. Taylor - are, as usual with Dunelm, excellent and I am happy
to invite you to explore this fascinating disc.
Philip L. Scowcroft
Good to have this sample of Matthew Taylor’s instrumental
music, finely played … see Full Review
Diane Porteous (cello); Matthew
Taylor (piano)