Stevenson: Passacaglia on DSCH James Willshire

• Ronald Stevenson (1928 - 2015): Passacaglia on DSCH, Pt. 1:
• 1 Part I: Sonata allegro 07:06
• 2 Waltz in rondo-form 03:06
• 3 Episode 1: Presto 00:29
• 4 Suite: I-VII 13:16
• 5 Suite: IX. Pibroch (Lament for Children) 02:42
• 6 Suite: X. Episode 2: Arabesque variations 00:44
• 7 Suite: XI. Nocturne 02:14
• Passacaglia on DSCH, Pt. 2:
• 8 Reverie-Fantasy 04:28
• 9 Fanfare - Forebodings: Alarm - Glimpse of a war vision 02:16
• 10 Variations on Peace, Bread and the Land (1917) 02:19
• 11 Symphonic March 02:13
• 12 Episode 3: Volante scherzoso 00:58
• 13 Fandango 02:05
• 14 Pedal Point, "To emergent Africa" 02:19
• 15 Central Episode: Etudes 04:00
• 16 Variations in C Minor 03:35
• 17 Adagio: tribute to Bach 01:48
• Passacaglia on DSCH, Pt. 3, Triple Fugue over Ground Bass:
• 18 Subject 1: Andamento 06:00
• 19 Subject 2: BACH 06:50
• 20 Subject 3: Dies Irae 06:18
• 21 Adagissimo barocco 10:30
• 22 Promenade Pastorale 02:58
• 23 Waltzes 08:24
• Fugue, Variations & Epilogue on a Theme by Arnold Bax:
• 24 I. Fugue without Protocol (Tema locriano) - 04:58
• 25 I. Transition to Movement II 01:25
• 26 II. Intermezzo-Notturno: Omaggio a John Field - 01:23
• 27 II. Alla giga - 00:44
• 28 II. Marcia funebre (Lento ma con moto) - 01:20
• 29 II. Allegro quasi feroce - 01:00
• 30 III. Epilogue 05:58
• 31 Nocturne, "Homage to John Field" (version for piano) 05:58
• 32 Variations on a Theme of Pizzetti: Tema: moviemento di Sarabanda - Riflessione del tema - Transizione 01:17
• 33 Variation 1: Con moto amabile 00:22
• 34 Variation 2 00:19
• 35 Variation 3: Più mosso (circa allegro) 00:20
• 36 Variation 4: Poco meno mosso 00:22
• 37 Variation 5 00:31
• 38 Variation 6: Sostenuto solenne 01:13
• 39 Variation 7: Alla marcia, molto moderato e quasi automa 01:00
• 40 Variation 8: Andante cantabile 00:54
• 41 Variation 9: Un po' più mosso (moderato) 00:26
• 42 Variation 10: Allegretto squisito 00:28
• 43 Variation 11: Alla siciliana (Allegretto grazioso) 00:30
• 44 Variation 12: Alla barcarolla 01:02
• 45 Variation 13: Alla tarantella 00:23
• 46 Variation 14: Allegro 01:48
• 47 Variation 15: Sostenuto 00:32
• 48 Variation 16 02:03
• 49 Piano Sonatina No. 2: I. Adagietto 03:10
• 50 Piano Sonatina No. 2: II. Allegro 04:15
• Total Runtime 02:20:19

Info zu Stevenson: Passacaglia on DSCH

Music of extraordinary range and power composed at the dawn of the Space Age, Ronald Stevenson’s 'Passacaglia on DSCH' was long claimed as the biggest single stretch of music ever written for piano. It is a veritable world tour of styles as well as a single-minded exploration of its generating motif, and rising star James Willshire, Who received five-star acclaim in 2011 for his Delphian debut disc of music by Rory Boyle, has the technique and vaulting ambition to match both the work's grandeur and its immense wealth of detail.

Willshire gave the 1955 'Variations on a Theme of Pizzetti' its belated concert premiere just this year, and now commits it to disc as one of a number of premiere recordings. The more recent, and equally substantial 'Fugue, Variations and Epilogue on a Theme by Arnold Bax' crystallises Stevenson’s lifelong devotion to a Celtic aesthetic as well as being the foreground for his innovative approach to variation technique. A clutch of shorter works completes the picture, bringing to light some of Stevenson’s less often remarked qualities: charm, exuberance, wit and grace. In 2000, at the age of 15, James was awarded an Educational Scholarship in the London International Piano Competition, the youngest British pianist to be thus recognised. He has performed at festivals throughout the UK and abroad, including the Lichfield, Cheltenham and Winchester Festivals and many more.

“All the works on this disc are stunningly played: the technical difficulties are overcome with boundless skill. Willshire is a tremendous advocate for Stevenson’s music.” (MusicWeb International)

“Willshire's pianism often evokes Stevenson's own incisively sprung rhythms and sharp dynamic contrasts” (Gramophone Magazine)

“The surprise is how charming his music can be, when it is not weighed down by his cleverness. He can slyly wrong-foot us with waltzes, or beguile with a serene homage...Bach is a constant presence, as is Stevenson's hero Busoni...It's hard to imagine this music better played: Willshire deserves a medal.” (BBC Music Magazine)

James Willshire, piano

James Willshire
Heralded for performances of "spectacular musicianship and technical brilliance" (The Scotsman), "evangelizing urgency" (International Record Review) and "freshness and lucidity" (The Herald), James Willshire performs internationally as soloist and chamber musician. He appears regularly at the major UK concert halls, including the Bridgewater Hall, Barbican, Glasgow City Halls, and Royal Festival Hall, and has broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. James's recordings of contemporary British piano music have been reviewed extensively, receiving universal acclaim.

Festival appearances include performances given by James at the 2015 The Piano Festival at Glasgow Royal Concert Halls, the Lichfield, Cheltenham and Winchester Festivals, the Kilkenny Arts Festival, the Cantilena Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, the Roman River Festival, 'Il Festival di Londra', the Victoria International Arts Festival and the Paxos International Festival.

A regular performer of contemporary music, James has given world premiere performances of works by Ronald Stevenson, John McLeod and Rory Boyle. James's debut recording on Delphian Records featured the complete piano music by Boyle; it was released in 2011 to critical acclaim, including a five-star review from The Scotsman. In October 2013 his recording of piano music by Ronald Stevenson was released. The CD was reviewed by BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone, received a five-star review in Classical Music magazine, and was awarded an IRR Outstanding by International Record Review. Other press interest for the recording included articles in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The Scotsman, Sinfini Music, The Arts Desk and MusicWeb International. His recording of piano music by David Jennings was chosen as one of MusicWeb International’s Recordings of the Year 2013. Future projects include performances at the Bridgewater Hall, with the Willshire Duo, a visit to St. Andrew's University, and recording the music for clarinet and piano, and clarinet trio, by Rory Boyle with Trio Dramatis.

James maintains a strong interest in music education and teaches the piano at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and St Mary’s Music School.

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