Sonatas for viola and piano

Hanna Hohti · Anna Kuvaja · Rebecca Clarke · York Bowen

2024 · ABCD 531

Credits

Performers: Hanna Hohti — ViolaAnna Kuvaja — Piano
Composers: Rebecca ClarkeYork Bowen

About this release

Echoes from outside the canon This album offers the listener two different but complementary perspectives on the viola piano repertoire of the early 20th century and the musical life of the era in general. Composers Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979) and York Bowen (1884–1961) belonged to the same generation, grew up in the same city and partly studied at the same educational institutions, but their musical language and musical thinking differ stylistically... This is how the text written by Nuppu Koivisto-Kaasik begins in the album booklet.

Tracks

Sonata no. 1 in C minor for viola and piano op. 18
1.I Allegro moderatocomp. York BowenISRC FIABA240001311:02
2.II Poco lento e cantabilecomp. York BowenISRC FIABA24000148:33
3.III Finale. Prestocomp. York BowenISRC FIABA24000158:57
Sonata for viola and piano
4.I Impetuosocomp. Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979)ISRC FIABA24000168:02
5.II Vivacecomp. Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979)ISRC FIABA24000174:19
6.III Adagio – Allegrocomp. Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979)ISRC FIABA240001811:32

Reviews

However, what’s lacking is a sense of richness of tone colour and phrasal know-how in this work, allied to a lack of real intimacy.
MusicWeb International · Jonathan Woolf · July 17, 2024
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Monet säveltäjät ovat kohdelleet alttoviulua lähinnä takapotkujen ja harmonian väliäänien tuottajana, mutta Mozartin päivistä lähtien on löytynyt myös niitä, jotka ovat tavoittaneet soittimen sielun ja soinnin. 1900-luvun alkupuolella englantilainen Lionel Tertis kirkasti soitollaan ja opetuksellaan alttoviulun identiteettiä, mistä levyn kappaleet ovat osaltaan todisteina.
Rondo Classic · Antti Häyrynen · April 3, 2024
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