2CDs
COMPACT DISC 1 (76.09)
1. MENDELSSOHN Song without words in A flat Op 38/6 ‘Duetto’; 2. in A Op 62/6 ‘Spring Song’
3. CHOPIN Étude in A flat Op 25/1; 4. Waltz in F Op 34/3
5. CHOPIN Berceuse in D flat Op 57; 6. Ballade No 3 in A flat Op 47
7. SCHUMANN Romanze in F sharp Op 28/2
8. LISZT Liebesträume No 3 S541/3
9. LISZT La campanella S141/3
10. LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody No 12
11. SCHUBERT/LISZT ‘Hark, Hark the Lark’ S558/9
12. SCHUBERT/TAUSIG Marche militaire in D D733/1
13. BRAHMS Waltz in A flat Op 39/15
14. PADEREWSKI Minuet in G Op 14/1
15. GRIEG Norwegian Bridal Procession Op 19/2
16. SIBELIUS Valse triste
17-20. RACHMANINOV Preludes in C sharp minor Op 3/2 (1926 recording)
G minor Op 23/5; G sharp minor Op 32/12;
C sharp minor Op 3/2 (1931 recording)
COMPACT DISC 2 (77.37)
1-3. BEETHOVEN Sonata in C minor Op 13 ‘Pathétique’
4-6. BEETHOVEN Sonata in F minor Op 57 ‘Appassionata’
7. BACH/BUSONI Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV645
8. DEBUSSY Les collines d’Anacapri; 9. Bruyères; 10. Minstrels
11. ALBÉNIZ El puerto (Iberia Book 1, No 2)
12-13. FALLA Piezas españolas - No 2 Cubana & No 4 Andaluza
Daily Express National Piano Playing Competition test pieces
14. ADAM CARSE Miniature Scherzo
15. RICHARD WALTHEW Sun and Shade
16. THOMAS DUNHILL Dew Fairies
17. ERNEST MARKHAM LEE Legend
18. ORLANDO MORGAN Le bal poudre
19. ALEC ROWLEY The Rambling Sailor
20. FELIX SWINSTEAD Serenata
21. GEORGE DYSON Primrose Mount
22. YORK BOWEN Reverie Op 86
23. JOHN IRELAND Rondo from Sonatina
All titles recorded between 1925 and 1931
Australian pianist William Murdoch (1888-1942) is almost forgotten today but was a major UK Columbia recording artist in the 1920s. A consummate musician, he was known as a chamber player as much as a soloist, as evidenced by many recordings, but was also the first pianist to record Beethoven’s 3rd piano concerto (acoustically in 1925). Amongst his solo recordings, pride of place must go to the two Beethoven sonatas which burst with energy and passion while never descending into superficiality. A little known and fascinating part of his legacy is his recording of the eight test pieces written for the National Piano Competition of 1928 organised by the Daily Express. This unique event was open to pianists of all abilities from beginner to advanced and the specially commissioned pieces, by contemporary British composers, reflected these different levels. Murdoch’s recordings originally came with spoken commentaries on interpretation.
APR6029 Available on Compact Disc, as a Digital Download and to Stream