Arthur Somervell; Frederic Hymen Cowen - Piano Concertos (Martin Roscoe)

Information

Composer: Arthur Somervell; Frederic Hymen Cowen

1. Cowen - Concertstück
2. Somervell - Normandy 'Symphonic Variations'
3. Somervell - Piano Concerto in A minor 'Highland': I. Allegro moderato
4. Somervell - Piano Concerto in A minor 'Highland': II. Adagio
5. Somervell - Piano Concerto in A minor 'Highland': III. Allegro

Martin Roscoe, piano

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Martyn Brabbins, conductor

Date: 2011

Label: Hyperion

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67837

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Review

The ‘Romantic Piano Concerto’ series reaches Vol 54 in style

Now almost forgotten, Sir Frederic Hymen Cowen (his parents must have been unfamiliar with female geography) was one of the stalwarts of British music before the emergence of Elgar. Older readers will know his concert overture The Butterfly’s Ball (there’s a rather wonderful 1916 recording of Cowen himself conducting it on Dutton and his own arrangement for pianola on NMC). This and his 20-minute Concertstück are testaments to a sound training in Leipzig and a charming if modest lyrical gift. The piano part reflects his early credentials as a child prodigy and virtuoso, and if there are passages lifted almost directly from Liszt’s E flat Concerto (from 13'42" to 13'50", for instance, or the trills at 16'55") there are worse models from which to borrow.

Sir Arthur Somervell, as represented here, has a more distinctively individual touch. Normandy, another 20-minute work, is a set of variations played continuously but with the structure of a four-movement symphony. Some of the ideas are truly enchanting (try the section at 8'45", adroitly handled by Roscoe) and if the work never rises to the greatest heights, it certainly merits this revival – as does the Highland Concerto (1921), as near to a “British light music” concerto as you’ll hear and about as authentically Scottish as a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Its three movements have infuriatingly catchy themes which, though by Somervell, somehow sound familiar.

Beyond his customary grace and lucid phrasing, Martin Roscoe dispatches the often taxing writing with stylish élan, while the indefatigable Martyn Brabbins once again leads the wonderful (and underrated) BBC Scottish players in three world premiere recordings that sound as if they’ve been a much-loved part of their repertoire for years.

-- Jeremy Nicholas, Gramophone

More reviews:

ClassicsToday  ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2011/Oct11/Somervell_Cowen_CDA67837.htm

https://www.classical-music.com/reviews/orchestral/somervell-works-piano-and-orchestra/

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/aug/25/cowen-concertstuck-somervell-normandy-review

https://www.audaud.com/the-romantic-piano-concerto-vol-54-cowen-concertstuck-somervell-normandy-piano-con-in-a-minor-highland-martin-roscoe-p-bbc-scottish-sym-orch-martyn/

https://www.amazon.com/Romantic-Piano-Concerto-Vol-Concertstuck/dp/B00570JX24

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Arthur Somervell (5 June 1863 – 2 May 1937) was an English composer, and after Hubert Parry one of the most successful and influential writers of  English art song. Born in Windermere, Westmorland, Somervell studied with Charles Villiers Stanford, Hubert Parry and Friedrich Kiel. He achieved success in his own day as a composer of choral works, but is now chiefly remembered for his song cycles. His style was conservative, and shows the influence of Mendelssohn and Brahms. He was also active in music education, became a professor at the Royal College of Music in 1894.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Somervell

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Frederic Hymen Cowen (29 January 1852 – 6 October 1935), was an English composer, conductor and pianist. Born in Jamaica and educated in England and Germany, among his teachers were Ignaz Moscheles, Carl Reinecke, Ferdinand David, Friedrich Kiel and Carl Taubert. As a composer, Cowen's most important work, his Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Scandinavian, brought him some international recognition. As a conductor, he was conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Society, the Hallé Orchestra and the Philharmonic Society of London. Cowen's career, both as composer and conductor, is now unjustly forgotten.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Hymen_Cowen

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Martin Roscoe (born 3 August 1952 in Halton, Runcorn, Cheshire) is an English classical pianist, who performs as a concerto soloist, as a recitalist and as a chamber musician. He studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music with Gordon Green and Marjorie Clementi. He has a repertoire of over 100 concertos performed or recorded. His chamber music partnerships include Peter Donohoe, Tasmin Little, Jennifer Pike and many more. Having had over 500 broadcasts, including seven BBC Prom appearances, Martin is one of the most regularly played pianists on BBC Radio 3.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Roscoe

http://www.martinroscoe.co.uk

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