Quiet Summer Evening: English Music on Somm
The music is the very definition of the disc's subtitle, "British Light Classics"
This rather nice compilation of approachable, broadly "pastoral" English music released by SOMM is a delight. The music is the very definition of the disc's subtitle, "British Light Classics".
Geoffrey Bush's Rhapsody for clarinet and strings fits the definition of "light music" perfectly: the solo instrument sings over harmonies, cushioned on strings, every inch in the lineage of, say, Butterworth's willow growing aslant a brook. Peter Cigleris is a most eloquent soloist:
Terence Higgins' Vers Le Sud is heard in an arrangement by David Stowe - a somewhat gestural opening leads to an appealing dance rooted in the South of France. Peter Fisher, who also directs the "Chamber Ensemble of London":
I admit the pull here was the solo French horn piece, as an ex-player myself. Alexei Watkins is a superb player, his tone even across the range, (this piece goes nice and high, which he negotiates with ease). Clive Jenkins' Fantasia for horn and strings. Born Plymouth in 1933, Jenkins' piece. Commissioned for Andrew Maher of the Hallé Orchestra, the piece contains significant tension within its relatively conservative harmonic remit. The present arrangement dates from 2009. Watkins' brief cadenza appeals, too, ceding to a long-breathed theme with elements of mild heroism:
Nigel Brooks' Sunday Afternoon for bassoon and strings acts as something of a contrast, almost French in its insouciance. It is the very definition of walking pace (so a stroll, then) and is full of charm. The piece was written specifically for this release - sadly, he passed away in March 2024, aged 97:
Everything is Somewhere Else is an intriguing title: Another piece for bassoon and strings, described accurately in Somm's notes as "one continuously evolving variation". It is short, and one feels there could be more, for sure, although I do like the teasing cadence that always leads to more:
The Five Pieces for Clarinet and String Orchestra by Clive Jenkins marks the return of Ciglaris. The five places of the title are all concerned with Plymouth: another perambulation, It was the third movement, "Tamarside," that was the determinnig factor for the request for the five pieces' orchestration, a and it is indeed a beautiful, cantabile dream, marvellously delivered by Ciglaris, and sensitively accompanied by the ensemble:
The angular frolics of "The Barbican" act as pleasing contrast, laden with light counterpoint before the deliciously slinky "Drake Circus" rounds off the set:
Back to the horn for Andy Meyers' Serenade. Myers is himself a horn player (Trinity-trained) which always helps .... Watkins plays superbly, with excellent definition. Whereas the first showcased Watkins' higher register at times, Myers' piece reveals teh strength, accuracy and definition of Watkin's lower extension:
Always nice to see some Gordon Jacob, his “A Little WaltzÆ for bassoon and strings, as expertly crafted as one would expect. It is from his Four Sketches of 1976. It acts as an interlude between horn pieces: Luke Whitlock's Lullaby. Again, this was written specifically for this album, a work of great lyricism:
Clive Jenkins returns in the role of arranger for the "Canto popolate" from Elgar's In the South, heard here on violin (Fisher), perfectly Elgarian in its sense of deep yearning:
Lennox Berkely fits rather snugly in here, his Andantino in an arrangement for cello (Michael Mace) and strings by Clive Jenkins, tender, absolutely of a Summer evening:
... and here's a performance on Naxos of the cello and piano version:
Delius, again in arrangement by Jenkins, appears with an early work (but full of the characteristically langourous textures and harmonies), the1986 Serenade. The first modern performance was in 1976 by Julian Lloyd Webber. The programme ends, though, with the titular track, Quiet Summer Evening, by Don Sheerman (1932-2024), a slightly liger sense of langour garlanded with some rather nice portamento:
Available at Amazon here. Streaming below.
