John R. Williamson Music for Piano, Vol. 1
The music of John R Williamson, a composer from Manchester, England, is deserving of greater recognition. Murray McLachlan is a champion of Williamson’s music and presents the first of a series of 3 CDs in whcih his stylisitic and virtuosic playing enhances further the individuality of these works.
Track Listing
-
John Ramsden Williamson:
- I. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 1 in C (The Fury) (0:47)
- II. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 2 in D flat (1:49)
- III. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 3 in D (1:36)
- IV. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 4 in E flat (0:57)
- V. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 5 in E (3:15)
- VI. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 6 in F (0:34)
- VII. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 7 in F sharp (2:38)
- VIII. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 8 in G (1:14)
- IX. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 9 in A flat (Lament for Laddie) (4:11)
- X. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 10 in A (1:07)
- XI. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 11 in B flat (2:32)
- XII. 12 New Piano Preludes - no. 12 in B (1:45)
- I. Piano Sonata no. 2 in F sharp - Maestoso (4:24)
- II. Piano Sonata no. 2 in F sharp - Nostalgic (3:50)
- III. Piano Sonata no. 2 in F sharp - Alla scherzo (3:01)
- IV. Piano Sonata no. 2 in F sharp - Meditative (4:58)
- V. Piano Sonata no. 2 in F sharp - Rumbustious (4:09)
- I. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 1 in C (1:00)
- II. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 2 in C sharp (3:04)
- III. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 3 in D (0:49)
- IV. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 4 in E flat (0:54)
- V. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 5 in E (1:13)
- VI. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 6 in F (1:08)
- VII. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 7 in F sharp (1:52)
- VIII. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 8 in G (1:35)
- IX. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 9 in G sharp (Madness) (1:18)
- X. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 10 in A (2:57)
- XI. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 11 in B flat (1:02)
- XII. 12 Palindromic Preludes, set 1 - no. 12 in B (4:16)
- I. Piano Sonatina no. 2 in C - Lively (1:50)
- II. Piano Sonatina no. 2 in C - Slow, relaxed (2:25)
- III. Piano Sonatina no. 2 in C - Alive (1:55)
Reviews
“Here is a remarkable trio of CDs featuring the piano music of John R. Williamson. He has forged a style that convincingly fuses disparate elements into an organic whole. The lyrical impulse is very strong and the emotional world is often intense and heartfelt. Time and time again the listener is carried along by sweeps of modal contours that are enlivened and even subverted by the churning harmonies. The world is lucky to have a fine composer such as Williamson and he himself is lucky to have a pianist so dedicated to playing his music as Murray McLachlan. The three CDs are attractively packaged…recordings are clear and have plenty of gain… powerful music and committed performances. Williamson is making an important contribution to piano repertoire in a style all his own.
” —David Hackbridge Johnson
“Eloquently persuasive performances of Williamson’s unusual and finely crafted works
” —John Pitts
“McLachlan reacts to the varied moods like a pianist chameleon. Those tempted to explore Williamson’s music will not be disappointed
” —Colin Clarke
“Nobody can fault the musical brilliance of the performance. Williamson is best in his shorter pieces, in which a small idea is often transformed into surprisingly fine-shaped patterns… his mastery of the sonata form is unquestioned. Grab [the three CDs] with the hope of many volumes to follow.
” —Marius Dawn
