Piano music featured prominently for the most part of Alwyn’s career. The composer himself was no mean pianist, as evidenced in the varying technical demands made on the pianist in the works included here. The major work on this recording, Fantasy Waltzes, consisting of a suite of eleven virtuoso pieces, is arguably Alwyn’s finest creation for piano solo. Haze of Noon is a dreamy and languid piece, one of several published by OUP for their educational series. Green Hills is a nature poem which inhabits the sound world of John Ireland, while both Fancy Free and April Morn are simpler pieces which nevertheless demonstrate Alwyn’s consummate skill as a composer.
Tracklist
Artist details
Alwyn, William
Sonata alla toccata
1 I. Maestoso - Allegro ritmico e jubilante 03:33
2 II. Andante con moto e semplice 02:24
3 III. Molto vivace 03:54
Green Hills
4 Green Hills 03:07
Cricketty Mill
5 Cricketty Mill 04:15
Prelude and Fugue on an Indian Scale
6 Prelude 02:18
7 Fugue 01:34
Haze of Noon
8 Haze of Noon 02:47
Harvest Home
9 I. The Tinker's Tune 01:21
10 II. The Village Band 01:22
11 III. Harvest Moon 01:46
12 IV. The Church Bells Ring 01:18
Fancy Free
13 I. Sunday Morning 01:14
14 II. Snowdrop 01:44
15 III. Twilight 01:26
16 IV. Happy-Go-Lucky 00:56
April Morn
17 I. The Lost Lamb 01:11
18 II. April Shower 00:53
19 III. Bluebells 00:39
20 IV. Violets 00:53
Fantasy Waltzes
21 No. 1. Tempo rubato e capriccioso 02:49
22 No. 2. Scherzando 01:31
23 No. 3. Moderato 02:46
24 No. 4. Grazioso 02:26
25 No. 5. Lento 03:54
26 No. 6. Allegro giocoso 05:23
27 No. 7. Lento 03:54
28 No. 8. Vivace, ma ritmico 01:24
29 No. 9. Lento e lugubre 04:26
30 No. 10. In tempo piacevole 01:40
31 No. 11. Presto 05:22
