 |
|
Following on from two highly praised collections of light-music classics — “Dicky Bird Hop” and “Chasing Moonbeams” — for EM Records, Paul Guinery has quarried his extensive music archive of solo piano gems for a third selection he’s called “Finger Prints”.
Previous generations could identify with the Viennese adage of taking serious music lightly and light music seriously. This was appreciated in the UK as well, with many home-grown composers applying their abundant talents and skills to feed an appetite for music whose primary aim was simply to entertain.
Guinery’s extensive knowledge of the repertoire and his sizeable collection of original sheet-music have informed broadcasts he has made of this repertoire for BBC Radio 3’s flagship “Breakfast” programme. There was an enthusiastic response from listeners clamouring for more, proving that light music is still much appreciated — and missed. “Why don’t we hear this sort of music these days?” was a common response. The genre has been neglected to the extent that, apart from film scores, it barely exists today. High time, then, for a further exploration of its charm, inventiveness and craftsmanship.
| Harry Engleman (1912–2002) | |||
| 1. | “FINGER PRINTS” |
|
|
| Haydn Wood (1882–1959) | |||
| 2. | “LONGING” |
|
|
| Cecil Macklin (1883–1944) | |||
| 3. | “THE COCKNEY CRAWL” (World Première recording) |
|
|
| Jack Strachey (1894–1972) | |||
| 4. | “ANNA’S POLKA” (World Première recording) |
|
|
| Amy Woodforde-Finden (1860–1919) | |||
| 5. | “KASHMIRI SONG” (trans. Hough) |
|
|
| Harry Revel (1905–1958) | |||
| 6. | “DID YOU EVER SEE A DREAM WALKING?” (trans. Mayerl) |
|
|
| 7. | “I FEEL LIKE A FEATHER IN THE BREEZE” (trans. Mayerl) |
|
|
| Edward German (1862–1936) | |||
| 8. | “POLISH DANCE” |
|
|
| Harry Engleman | |||
| 9. | “GOLDEN CHAIN” |
|
|
| Frank Bridge (1879–1941) | |||
| 10. | “BERCEUSE” |
|
|
| Jack Wilson (1907–2006) | |||
| 11. | “PHANTOM FINGERS” |
|
|
| John Ireland (1879–1962) | |||
| 12. | “CAVATINA” |
|
|
| Peggy Cochrane (1902–1988) | |||
| 13. | “BUSY DAY” |
|
|
| Harry Revel | |||
| 14. | “WITH MY EYES WIDE OPEN I’M DREAMING” (trans. Mayerl) |
|
|
| 15. | “YOU HIT THE SPOT” (trans. Mayerl) |
|
|
| Roger Quilter (1877–1953) | |||
| 16. | “COUNTRY DANCE” |
|
|
| Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) | |||
| 17. | “THOUGHTS”, op. 2 no. 1 |
|
|
| 18. | “THOUGHTS”, op. 2 no. 2 |
|
|
| Jack Wilson | |||
| 19. | “SHADOWS ON THE MOON” (World Première recording) |
|
|
| Billy Mayerl (1902–1959) | |||
| 20. | “SHY BALLERINA” |
|
|
| Lennox Berkeley (1903–1989) | |||
| 21. | “JAVA” (trans. Dickinson) |
|
|
| Richard Addinsell (1904–1977) | |||
| 22. | “BLITHE SPIRIT WALTZ” |
|
|
EMR CD028 | INTERNATIONAL
RECORD REVIEW