Echoes of Land & Sea [Maria Marchant] [Somm Recordings: SOMM 0174] [Audio CD]

Product descriptionThis cleverly planned new recital represents a uniquely valuable addition to the catalogue and focuses attention on English piano music which is less well known but no less delectable. Our programme ranges from some of the most famous names in music to those best-known in other areas of the art – and has been carefully chosen to present a uniquely fascinating conspectus of piano music by British composers of the last 100 years. There are such rarities as Benjamin Britten’s brilliant early suite ‘Holiday Diary’, the great composer in lighter mood, and the magnificent virtuoso set of Six Studies for Piano by Kenneth Leighton, alongside a rare collection of Impressionist pieces by Gustav Holst – showing him to be as much a master of the keyboard as his ‘Planets’ suite is of the orchestra. John Ireland (Britten’s teacher) is represented by his haunting Ballade of London Nights, and we have a significant premiere recording of Ireland’s most famous song – Sea Fever – arranged for solo piano by Roderick Williams, best-known as one of the finest of all living British singers, now appearing on disc in a new light. Both the world premiere Goodwood-by-the-Sea and the piano arrangement of Sea Fever were written by Roderick Williams especially for Maria Marchant and dedicated to her. Ronald Stevenson’s ‘Peter Grimes Fantasy’ takes us back to Benjamin Britten – a wonderful homage from one major British composer to another.ReviewPianist Maria Marchant excels in both pieces… but is most impressive in Kenneth Leighton’s Six Studies Op 56, from 1969, displaying cool control in the monolithic chordal movements and great dexterity in the highly complex contrapuntal sections. –The Guardian, September’17All phenomenally played, with Marchant s chameleon-like ability to inhabit each work something to marvel at. –The Arts Desk, 14 Oct ’17A brilliantly-coloured, kaleidoscopic collection of little-known British solo piano music. –Musicweb International, Oct ’17