Hannah Roper, Martin Jacoby, Emma Tring, Valeria Clarke
Release Date: 11 October 2024
Label: Albion Records
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 5060158190652
Genres: Classical
Description
This album, released by The Gustav Holst Society, with Albion Records, is in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Gustav Holst's birth on 21 September 1874. The album is based on chamber works written or arranged for violin with either voice or another instrument, by Holst himself and four composers who were contemporary with him - with a focus on neglected works but including a new arrangement of one very popular piece. Distinguished violinist Hannah Roper is joined by Martin Jacoby at the piano, by soprano Emma Tring and by harpist Valeria Clarke.
Gustav Holst is represented by three works, all of them in previously unrecorded arrangements. Ralph Vaughan Williams's 'The Lark Ascending' is heard in an arrangement for violin and harp by Valeria Clarke. William Hurlstone, who died at the age of 30 in 1906, was highly regarded by his teacher, Sir Charles Stanford. He is represented by the first recording of his 'Four English Sketches', and by two further previously unrecorded works for violin and piano. Rebecca Clarke was a viola player and composer whose work has become better known in recent years. Emma Tring sings her 'Three Irish Country Songs' for voice and violin. We also hear her 'Midsummer Moon' for violin and piano. Ethel Barns, from Watford was a child prodigy, who was already performing in public on both the violin and the piano before going to the Royal Academy at the age of 13. We hear premiere recordings of two pieces for violin and piano.
Hannah Roper studied with Rodney Friend, Mateja Marinkovic (Royal Academy of Music) and James Clark, and was the recipient of the Martin Musical Scholarship of the Philharmonia Orchestra for three consecutive years. She received the inaugural Yehudi Menuhin Prize for string playing whilst reading Music at Cambridge University. She enjoys a varied solo career with a particular focus on English music, and also performs regularly in major venues in the UK and abroad. Her violin, previously played by Lydia Mordkovitch, is by Harris and Sheldon.
Pianist Martin Jacoby has performed throughout the UK as a solo and chamber musician. Better known as a recording artist and composer, Martin has made more than 100 recordings of classical, contemporary and original works. Notable releases include Debussy: 'Images', an album of Mozart's Piano Sonatas as well as two full-length original albums plus an EP of original works featuring the Up North Session Orchestra.
Soprano Emma Tring specialises in contemporary music. John Pickard's song cycle, 'Verlaine Songs', was written for Emma and she recorded it with Martyn Brabbins and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. She is a long-term member of the BBC Singers and EXAUDI and she recently joined new vocal ensemble Vox Urbane.
Valeria Clarke is a multi-award-winning harpist based in London - specialising in solo harp performances, event performances, orchestral harp and session recording. She regularly plays harp for orchestras including the LPO and the London Contemporary Orchestra and is principal harpist in the London Electronic Orchestra.
Tracklisting
Tredegar Town Band, Ross Knight, Ian Porthouse, Martyn Brabbins
Alessandro Fisher, William Vann, The Navarra Quartet
Adrian Sims & Alan Rowlands
David Briggs
Chapel Choir Of The Royal Hospital, Joshua Ryan & William Vann
Timothy West, Samuel West, Mary Bevan, Sophie Bevan, Choir Of Clare College, Cambridge, Britten Sin
Various
David Welton & Iain Burnside
Anastasia Yasko
Hans-Jurg Strub; Wurttembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen; Christian Erny
Sinfonieorchester Gottingen
Mona Hartmann
Ignace Michiels
Anna Reichert
Tomasz Skweres, Ensemble Reconsil, Osterreichisches Ensemble fur Neue Musik, Orkiestra Muzyki Nowej
Martyn Brabbins, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Singers
