Cecil Coles, Gustav Holst: Piano Music James Willshire

• Cecil Coles (1888 - 1918), Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990), Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963), Sergei Prokofiev (1891 - 1953): Variations on an Original Theme:
• 1 Variations on an Original Theme: Thema (Andante con moto) 01:22
• 2 Variations on an Original Theme: Variation 1 (Poco più mosso) 00:42
• 3 Variations on an Original Theme: Variation 2 (Scherzoso) 00:44
• 4 Variations on an Original Theme: Variation 3 (Maestoso ma allegro) 01:01
• 5 Variations on an Original Theme: Variation 4 (Andante serioso ed espressivo) 02:50
• 6 Variations on an Original Theme: Variation 5 (Allegro giusto) 01:00
• Five Sketches:
• 7 Five Sketches: I. Prelude 01:36
• 8 Five Sketches: II. Her Picture 01:51
• 9 Five Sketches: III. Little Study 01:04
• 10 Five Sketches: IV. Phantom 01:30
• 11 Five Sketches: V. Retrospect 01:24
• Valse in D:
• 12 Valse in D 02:55
• Sonata in C Minor:
• 13 Sonata in C Minor: I. Allegro 07:56
• 14 Sonata in C Minor: II. Andante con moto 04:24
• Trianon Gavotte:
• 15 Trianon Gavotte 02:04
• Five Little Variations on an Original Theme:
• 16 Five Little Variations on an Original Theme: Theme (Poco andante) 00:42
• 17 Five Little Variations on an Original Theme: Variation 1 00:24
• 18 Five Little Variations on an Original Theme: Variation 2 (Poco allegro) 00:18
• 19 Five Little Variations on an Original Theme: Variation 3 (Vivo) 00:20
• 20 Five Little Variations on an Original Theme: Variation 4 (Maestoso) 00:57
• 21 Five Little Variations on an Original Theme: Variation 5 (Grazioso) 00:41
• Triste et Gai, Op. 10:
• 22 Triste et Gai, Op. 10 04:17
• Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934), Aaron Copland, Francis Poulenc, Sergei Prokofiev: Toccata, H. 153:
• 23 Toccata, H. 153 02:33
• Folk Song Fragments, Op. 46 No. 2, H. 166:
• 24 Folk Song Fragments, Op. 46 No. 2, H. 166: I. O I Hae Seen the Roses Blaw 03:06
• 25 Folk Song Fragments, Op. 46 No. 2, H. 166: II. The Shoemakker 00:51
• Chrissemas Day in the Morning, Op. 46 No. 1, H. 165:
• 26 Chrissemas Day in the Morning, Op. 46 No. 1, H. 165 02:58
• Two Pieces for Piano, H. 179:
• 27 Two Pieces for Piano, H. 179: I. Nocturne 03:43
• 28 Two Pieces for Piano, H. 179: II. Jig 02:52
• Egdon Heath:
• 29 Egdon Heath: A Homage to Thomas Hardy, Op. 47, H. 172 (arr. Iain Farrington) 12:25
• Total Runtime 01:08:30

Info for Cecil Coles, Gustav Holst: Piano Music

Behind the lines of the Western Front, the young Scottish composer Cecil Coles sent his friend and mentor Gustav Holst a score, stained with mud and blood. Only one movement survived: the rest was believed destroyed by enemy action.Four months later Coles himself was killed in battle rescuing injured comrades.

James Willshire’s groundbreaking survey of his piano music reveals a composer finding his voice in pre-war Britain, France and Germany, a poignant and distinctive blend of ‘happy–sad’, as Nigel Osborne’s perceptive notes describe it.After the war, Holst’s own work shows him returning to his fascination with folk music with ‘fresh ears of almost shocking clarity’, in harmonic experiments that parallel those of Bartók.

The recital culminates in a compelling performance of Iain Farrington’s new arrangement of one of Holst’s orchestral masterpieces, a bleak, ambitious depiction of Thomas Hardy’s ‘untameable, inviolate’ Egdon Heath.

James Willshire, piano

James Willshire
Heralded for performances of "spectacular musicianship and technical brilliance" (The Scotsman), "evangelizing urgency" (International Record Review) and "freshness and lucidity" (The Herald), James Willshire performs internationally as soloist and chamber musician. He appears regularly at the major UK concert halls, including the Bridgewater Hall, Barbican, Glasgow City Halls, and Royal Festival Hall, and has broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. James's recordings of contemporary British piano music have been reviewed extensively, receiving universal acclaim.

Festival appearances include performances given by James at the 2015 The Piano Festival at Glasgow Royal Concert Halls, the Lichfield, Cheltenham and Winchester Festivals, the Kilkenny Arts Festival, the Cantilena Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, the Roman River Festival, 'Il Festival di Londra', the Victoria International Arts Festival and the Paxos International Festival.

A regular performer of contemporary music, James has given world premiere performances of works by Ronald Stevenson, John McLeod and Rory Boyle. James's debut recording on Delphian Records featured the complete piano music by Boyle; it was released in 2011 to critical acclaim, including a five-star review from The Scotsman. In October 2013 his recording of piano music by Ronald Stevenson was released. The CD was reviewed by BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone, received a five-star review in Classical Music magazine, and was awarded an IRR Outstanding by International Record Review. Other press interest for the recording included articles in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The Scotsman, Sinfini Music, The Arts Desk and MusicWeb International. His recording of piano music by David Jennings was chosen as one of MusicWeb International’s Recordings of the Year 2013. Future projects include performances at the Bridgewater Hall, with the Willshire Duo, a visit to St. Andrew's University, and recording the music for clarinet and piano, and clarinet trio, by Rory Boyle with Trio Dramatis.

James maintains a strong interest in music education and teaches the piano at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and St Mary’s Music School.

This album contains no booklet.