Piatti Quartet: Michael Trainor - Naresh Sohal: String Quartets - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Having studied the cello as a child, I have always felt a special affinity with string music. My introduction at the age of 14 to the music of Britten was through his first string quartet, the opening of which still fills me with awe, and his works - especially those for strings - have remained a lifelong inspiration. I am delighted therefore that this recording of my String Quartets Nos. 2-4 has been released, made possible by the generous support of the Richard Thomas Foundation. I have been fortunate to work closely with the Piatti Quartet over a number of years. It was they who commissioned my String Quartet No.1 (2014), a piece they have performed extensively and recorded (Champs Hill Records 2018). Their enthusiasm encouraged me to continue exploring the genre, and - a decade later - it has been both a privilege and a huge pleasure to have another opportunity to write for them (String Quartet No.4). © Joseph Phibbsv

Until recently we were unaware of the rich output of Irish composer Ina Boyle. She was the only woman composer to be published in the Carnegie Collection of British music with her atmospheric orchestral rhapsody, The Magic Harp from 1919. In 1934 she completed her String Quartet in E minor. In three movements, it has a distinctive, slightly Spartan, character. This is the world premiere commercial of this work. E.J. Moeran's E flat quartet was found among his papers after his premature death. It was thought that the work was an early composition, but it is now thought that the sectional second movement dates from the post war 1940's. This fascinating recital from the Piatti Quartet is completed with the Welsh Hymn Tunes arrangements by Vaughan Williams and John Ireland's, The Holy Boy, in his arrangement Album Tracks 1. Household Music I Crug-Y-Bar Fantasia 2. Household Music II St Denio Scherzo 3. Household Music III Aberystwyth Variations 4. String Quartet in E minor I Allegro Moderato 5. String Quartet in E minor II Adagio 6. String Quartet in E minor III Allegro Molto 7. The Holy Boy 8. String Quartet No 2 in E-Flat I Allegro Moderato Ma Ben Animato 9. String Quartet No 2 in E-Flat II Lento

Album Tracks 1. Concerto for Flute & String Orchestra in B-Flat Major 1. Allegro Moderato 2. Concerto for Flute & String Orchestra in B-Flat Major 2. Larghetto 3. Concerto for Flute & String Orchestra in B-Flat Major 3. Allegretto 4. Concerto for Flute & String Orchestra in G Major 1. Allegro Spiritoso 5. Concerto for Flute & String Orchestra in G Major 2. Adagio 6. Concerto for Flute & String Orchestra in G Major 3. Allegretto 7. Favourite Concerto for Two Flutes & String Orchestra in D Major 1. Allegro 8. Favourite Concerto for Two Flutes & String Orchestra in D Major 2. Largo 9. Favourite Concerto for Two Flutes & String Orchestra in D Major 3. Allegretto 10. Trio Sonata for Two Flutes & Basso Continuo in D minor 1. Allegro 11. Trio Sonata for Two Flutes & Basso Continuo in D minor 2. Andante 12. Trio Sonata for Two Flutes & Basso Continuo in D minor 3. Allegro 13. 1. Allegretto 14. Trio Sonata for Two Flutes and Basso Continuo in C Major 2. Andante 15. Trio Sonata for Two Flutes and Basso Continuo in C Major 3. Presto 16. Trio Sonata for Two Flutes and Basso Continuo in D Major 1. Allegro Moderato 17. Trio Sonata for Two Flutes and Basso Continuo in D Major 2. Adagio 18. Trio Sonata for Two Flutes and Basso Continuo in D Major 3. Allegro