The Sonata in E minor by the composer of ' Rule Britannia ' is a typical sonata of the middle of the eighteenth century, the period when the old suite and partita were dying out and the modern sonata of Haydn and Mozart was still in its infancy. On the whole, however, it looks back to Handel and Bach rather than forward. After a rather slow first movement comes a short adagio (with some delightful bits of imitation) leading without a break into the sparkling finale.
(First Broadcast Performance in England)
Harriet Cohen comes from a musical family. Her father is a specialist in the military band and its music, and before she was twelve had taught his daughter how to score for full orchestra. Miss Cohen then went to the Royal Academy of Music and studied under Tobias Matthay and afterwards had a few lessons from Busoni. At the age of seventeen she played before Sir Henry Wood, and he engaged her for the Proms. Among the many distinguished artists with whom she has played are Casals, Tertis, and Sammons.
Miss Cohen has always shown a catholic outlook towards her art, and although she is a fine classical player, she is equally at home with the music of contemporary composers, for which she has been an ardent propagandist, particularly for the works of British' composers.