CONTEMPORARY BRITISH COMPOSERS
— ARNOLD BAX
HARRIET COHEN (Pianoforte)
MARIA KORCHINSKA (Harp)
THE VIRTUOSO STRING QUARTET : MARJORIE HAYWARD (Violin), EDWIN VIRGO (Violin), RAYMOND JEREMY (Viola), CEDRIO SHARPE
(Violoncello)
MARIA KORCHINSKA and RAYMOND JEREMY
Fantasy Sonata for Harp and Viola (1927)
(1) Very quick; (2) Fairly quick; (3) Slow and expressive; (4) Quick
THE VIRTUOSO STRING QUARTET
Second and Third Movements from First
String Quartet (1917)
Slow and very expressive; Rondo-Quick and lively
CEDRIC SHARPE and HARRIET COHEN
Sonata for Violoncello and Piano (1923)
A RNOLD BAX (born 1883), one of the foremost present-day composers, was trained at the Royal Academy of Music, studying composition under Frederick Corder. His music was first heard in public in 1903, and since then he has written many large Choral, Orchestral, and Chamber works, besides Piano pieces and many subtle and fragrant songs.
The Fantasy Sonata for Harp and Viola, a recent work, is dedicated to the harpist whof plays it to-night. It is in four Movements, none of them long. The First, beginning at a great pace, after a time passes, through a less animated section, to a portion moving gently, in lyrical style. A brief return to the original pace, with a reminiscence of the Viola's opening melody, ends the Movement. With only one silent bar we enter the Second Movement, in Scherzo stylo. It contains some piquant treatment of the instruments ; here notice a recollection of themes heard in the First Movement. There is no break
... between-this Movement and the next, which begins slowly and expressively, quickens up, still singing broadly, reaches a climax of power, and finally returns to the opening mood.
- ' The Last Movement has some very brilliant work for both players, and has a wide range of feeling. Former themes appear again, and the threads of the work are drawn together towards the majestic end.
The Sonata for 'Cello and Pianoforte, when first brought out in 1924, was performed by Beatrice Harrison and Harriet Cohen. It is in three Movements; (I) At a moderate pace; (2) Slow; (3) Lively, followed by Epilogue-Calm, at a moderate pace ; all of them frankly romantic in feeling, and frequently tinged with the wistful regret which is, through different idioms, so characteristic of Bax's music.