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John R. Williamson: Music for Piano: Volume
2 played byMurray McLachlan (Piano) with the composer playing
Lament for Sarah
Dunelm Records DRD0176 (£10 + 95p p&p)
Available to order from record shops or directly from:
Dunelm Records, 2 Park Close, Glossop, Derbyshire SK13 7RQ
e-mail: sales@dunelm-records.co.uk or www.dunelm-records.co.uk
Throughout his composing career, John R. Williamson has patiently
and painstakingly developed his own formal thinking, mostly based
on palindromic structures. Many of his pieces clearly reflect
this life-long concern. He has composed six sets of Twelve Palindromic
Preludes as well as a number of works - such as the Second and
Fourth Piano Sonatas - that also often rely on palindromic structures,
harmonic, rhythmic and melodic as well. I once read a remark that
any fool can write a palindrome. It nevertheless is much more
difficult to compose a palindrome that also makes sense, musically
speaking. Williamson is clearly such a composer, for his beautifully
crafted, wholly idiomatic pieces may be fully enjoyed as pure,
abstract music of great expressive appeal. DUNELM RECORDS' previous
release devoted to Williamson's piano music (DRD0134) already
demonstrated the composer's full mastery of his aims and means.
The present release, actually Volume 2, confirms the impressions
gathered from the preceding disc.
The Fourth Piano Sonata is a substantial work in four movements,
including a beautifully expressive slow movement framed by lively,
rhythmically-alert outer movements. The fifth set of Twelve Palindromic
Preludes - completed in2000 - consists of neatly characterised
movements, in turn energetic and contemplative, serious and playful,
in which Williamson's mastery is evident throughout. One completely
forgets his formal concern with palindromic structures and one
simply enjoys some beautiful piano music. This, I think, bears
ample proof of the measure of assurance and command achieved by
the composer in handling his material.
This magnificent release opens and ends with two short pieces.
Song of Nature - an atmospheric Pastorale - is actually the fourth
section of An English Suite, whereas the last item, played by
the composer, Lament for Sarah, is an excerpt from a set of variations
for harp. This short but deeply-moving miniature "reflects
the sadness following the death of a granddaughter in 1998".
Seven Interval Preludes - dating from 2001 - and first performed
by Murray McLachlan in August 2002, have of course, much in common
with the earlier works represented here. The studies are again
very contrasted in mood, and the whole set ends with a brilliant
Toccata.
Those who have heard the first volume previously released by
DUNELM will know what to expect. To those new to the music of
John R. Williamson I will only say this: If you respond to piano
music by, say, Debussy, Ravel or John Ireland, you cannot but
respond to Williamson's idiomatic, often impressionistic, expressive
music.
Murray McLachlan plays beautifully throughout and is obviously
much in empathy with the music. His magnificent readings - carefully
prepared and tonally varied - serve the music in the best possible
way. I simply hope that DUNELM will go on recording Williamson's
music and that further instalments will soon be available.
Warmly recommended.
Hubert Culot
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