Peter Maxwell Davies - Strathclyde Concertos Nos 3 & 4 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Stravinsky composed his music at the keyboard, often struggling to play his own complex rhythms. It is not surprising therefore that many of his symphonic works also exist in his own piano versions, such as the four hand transcription of his ballet, The Rite of Spring. It is a pianistic tour de force, the players often having to interweave fingers, hands and arms to meet the composers tremendous demands of virtuosity. The work has for many years formed part of the standard repertoire of Benjamin Frith and Peter Hill. They have played it throughout England to astonished audiences, and have broadcast this (and the other two works on this disc) on BBC Radio 3. The performance is staggeringly brilliant, superbly recorded in St Silas Church, London on a wonderful Bosendorfer Imperial Grand. The duo are now recording exclusively for Naxos, Peter Hill will be recording the complete music by Stravinsky for two hands at sessions this summer. Album Tracks 1. Sonata for Two Pianos Moderato 2. Sonata for Two Pianos Theme with Variations 3. Sontata for Two Pianos Variation 1 4. Sonata for Two Pianos Variation 2 5. Sonata for Two Pianos Variation 3 6. Sonata for Two Pianos Variation 4 7. Sonata for Two Pianos Allegretto 8. Concerto for Two Pianos Con Moto 9. Concerto for Two Pianos Notturno 10. Concerto for Two Pianos Variation 1 (Quattro Variazioni) 11. Concerto for Two Pianos Variation 2 (Quattro Variazioni) 12. Concerto for Two Pianos Variation 3 (Quattro Variazioni) 13. Concerto for Two Pianos Variation 4 (Quattro Variazioni) 14. Concerto for Two Pianos Preludio E Fuga 15. The Rite of Spring - Part I The Adoration of the Earth Introduction 16. The Rite of Spring - Part I The Adoration of the Earth Auguries of Spring (Dances of the Young Girls) 17. The Rite of Spring - Part I The Adoration of the Earth Ritual of Abduction

Album Tracks 1. L'amor, Donna, Ch'io Te Porto 2. Niña, Erguídeme los Ojos 3. Tres Moricas M'enamoran 4. Diferencias Sobre El Conde Claros 5. Fantasía Del Primer Tono 6. Fantasía Del Primer Tono 7. Fantasía Del Primer Tono 8. Ricercar #4 9. Ricercar #2 10. Ricercar #1 11. Fantasía #11 12. Perdida Tenno la Color 13. Con Pavor Recordó El Moro 14. Falai Minna Amor 15. Fantasia en El Quinto Tono 16. Fantasía de Pasos 17. Fantasía de Pasos 18. Pavana de Alexandre/Galliarda 19. Soneto Lombardo 20. ¿Cómo Puedo Yo Bivir? 21. ¡Ay, de Mi! Dize El Buen Padre 22. Fantasía de Pasos 23. Las Tristes Lágrimas 24. Dos Sonetos 25. Desposósete Tu Amiga 26. Corten Espada 27. Pavana 28. Diferencias Sobre la Pavana 29. Sempre Me Fing' 30. Teresica Hermana 31. De los Alamos

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' Strathclyde Concertos are amongst his most imposing contributions to the genre. The solo pairing of his Concerto No. 5 was inspired by Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola, the soloists appearing in dialogue over intricate harmonies and dense string textures. Illuminated by Peter Bruegel's painting Children's Games, the distinctively scored Concerto No. 6 has an uninhibited lightness and transparency. Strathclyde Concerto No. 2 can be heard on Naxos 8.573017, Nos. 3 and 4 on 8.572353. Album Tracks 1. Adagio - Allegro Moderato 2. Allegro Moderato - Adagio 3. Allegro - Più Lento 4. Andante - Allegro Moderato 5. Adagio 6. Allegro - Andante