A fascinating juxtaposition - the seven early toccatas of J.S. Bach are interleaved with the 6th of Peter Seabourne's nine "Steps" cycles, the concept of renowned Bach player, Konstantin Lifschitz. Far from the Romantic toccata style, these canvases are multi-sectional kaleidoscopes of texture and tempi - each a miniature world encompassing virtuosity, intimacy and narrative. In the masterly hands of Lifschitz the result is a monumental journey of extraordinary invention.

Musick to Heare is soprano Olivia Hunt's debut solo recording, and showcases a wide range of sacred and secular song throughout the ages. John Hosking accompanies on three rather striking instruments: an Italian replica harpsichord built by Goble, the Hill, Norman & Beard organ designed by George Guest and William Mathias at Bangor University, and a Steinway Model D concert grand. Olivia's naturally pure yet colourful tone shines throughout this recording, bringing a new lease of life to the later repertoire. Her effortless upper range and rich lower range make this essential listening. Olivia Hunt and John Hosking have worked together in various guises since 2013. They cofounded early music group Ensemble 1677 in 2016 with the objective of bringing early music to a wider audience. Since then they have performed numerous early music concerts as a duo or with the Ensemble, staged Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas with professional soloists and a community chorus and undertook a successful tour of the South West of England.

Willowhayne Records presents the debut album from violinist Emmanuel Bach in a delightful programme of original works and arrangements from great violinists of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Fritz Kreisler, Jascha Heifetz, Leopold Auer and Joseph Joachim. Royal Overseas League String Competition winner Emmanuel Bach has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at venues including Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, St George's Bristol, St Martin-in-the-Fields and St James's Piccadilly. He was a prizewinner at the ROSL String Competition 2017, and Mirecourt International Competition 2016, and was winner of the Una Clark Competition. He took a Masters at the Royal College of Music, and is completing an Artist Diploma with Radu Blidar, supported by the HR Taylor Trust. He is grateful for support from the ESU and Countess of Munster Musical Trust.

In his second album for Willowhayne Records, virtuoso pianist Dominic John presents 24+1, a truly ground-breaking recording based on the ‘circle of fifths.’ From the power of Eduard Abramyan’s Prelude in F sharp minor to the poetry of John Ireland’s The Holy Boy, 25 composers extending across 2 centuries of music are represented in this unique musical journey that is sure to delight the listener. Dominic’s pianism has won him several prizes, including First Prize in the 22nd Brant International Piano Competition, British Music Society Awards, RCM Chappell Gold Medal, a Director’s Golden Jubilee Award at the RCM, and a laureate of the Corpus Christi, USA International Competition for Piano and Strings. He has performed in the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and abroad in France, Holland, Poland, Ameica, Korea, and Japan. He studied at Chethams School of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music where he held the RCM Society Junior Fellowship from 2004-2006. A versatile musician, Dominic is in demand as a soloist, member of various chamber ensembles and accompanist to a wide variety of singers and instrumentalists.

Bach, Chopin, Janácek & Kapustin: Piano Works

Trans Europe Experience tracks an imaginary journey around European cities in 20th-century organ music spanning some 50 years. From the operatic Adorazione by Oreste Ravenello to Markus K�hnis' Variations on the Swiss Song 'Stets i Truure, mues i l�be - with Carl Nielsen's Commotio, Op. 58 as the central "stop" of the recording - this CD showcases Keith John and the organ of Gloucester Cathedral at their very best. Keith John studied with Jean Guillou, whose Toccata, Op. 9 is also recorded here. He has previously recorded several discs for Priory and Hyperion, and this is his first release with Willowhayne Records.

Willowhayne Records is delighted to announce the release of international pianist Dominic John. Recorded in Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, this album features a dazzling display of virtuosity through a broad selection of repertoire, including the rarely recorded Vaneyev transcription of Kreisler's Praeludium & Allegro to Earl Wild's Fantasy on Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. Dominic's artistry has won him several prizes including First Prize in the 22nd Brant International Piano Competition, British Music Society Awards, RCM Chappell Gold Medal, a Director's Golden Jubilee Award at the RCM, Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra Young Soloist Competition as well as a laureate of the Corpus Christi, USA. International Competition for Piano and Strings. Performances in the UK include the Wigmore Hall, St. John's Smith Square, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Fairfield Hall and the Barbican Hall. Overseas he has played in France, Holland, Poland, America, Korea and Japan. Dominic is on the faculty of the Junior Department at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

Robin A. Smith has had success in so many different genres, having studied composition at the Royal College of Music. He has conducted, composed and arranged for some of the greatest artists in the world, including Andrea Bocelli, José Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, Aretha Franklin and Burt Bacharach. He conducted the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics for Mike Oldfield. Le Weekend is a suite of music written as small scenarios, imagining a couple in France and the feelings they have for each other, expressed through music. The titles evoke each unspoken emotion that the lovers feel sharing time together in a beautiful village anywhere in France.

In the latest release in Willowhayne Records' acclaimed Experience series, organist John Hosking is joined by soprano Olivia Hunt, violinist Xander Croft and harpist Bethan Griffiths in a varied programme from St Asaph Cathedral. With two world premiere recordings of the music of John Hosking, the recording also includes music by J. S. Bach, Léon Boellmann, Lili Boulanger (her beautiful Pie Jesu) and Sigfrid Karg-Elert's Symphonic Chorale 'Nun ruhen alle Wälder.' John Hosking is Director of Music at Holy Trinity, Southport, following fourteen years as Assistant Director of music at St. Asaph Cathedral. He is also one of the organists for the BBC’s Daily Service. A student at the Royal College of Music, John became Organ Scholar of Westminster Abbey in 1996 and is the only person to ever hold this post for a period of three years. During this time, John played the organ for many Royal and State occasions, broadcast for the BBC and played twenty solo recitals in the Abbey.

O My People

After her critically acclaimed début album of piano music from Bach to Kapustin, Yasmin Rowe joins Australian cellist Yelian He (collectively known as Y2) in a programme of music by Mendelssohn, Liszt, Henryson, Kapustin and Piazzolla. Y2 has also achieved outstanding success on the world’s competition stages, notably 1st Prize in the 2009 Royal Over-Seas League String Competition in London and the Grand Prize and Audience Prize in the 2014 Australian Cello Awards Competition (now amalgamated as the Young Performer’s Awards) in Sydney. This release includes the world première recording of Svante Henrysson's "On A Day Like This" for solo cello. "Yelian He plays On A Day Like This and Black Run with all the Read more

Husband and wife duo Catherine and Christopher celebrate their 25th year of musical partnership with this album of world premiere recordings of works which have been borrowed or transcribed for oboe and piano, including 3 pieces by Richard Strauss which were arranged specially for this release. Let the music take you along quiet forest paths, to magical castles and sparkling Viennese balls. Featuring a sonata by Mozart, and operatic works by Glinka and Richard Strauss, this disc showcases the oboe's lyrical and virtuosic sides in an intimate chamber music setting. Catherine and Christopher met at Cardiff University, where they both studied music as undergraduates. They began playing together almost from the moment they met. When Chris was soloist in Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, Catherine played the famous cor anglais solo in the slow movement, and he accompanied her for her final degree recital, her ARCM diploma, and her final postgraduate recital at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. In their 25 years as a couple, on and off stage, they have performed together across the UK.

Francis Grier is well known as a composer as well as a performer. This recording by organist Tom Winpenny gives listeners a unique insight into the organ music of Francis Grier in world premiere recordings. Played on the magnificent organ of St Albans Cathedral, this instrument shows the depth of range and color of Grier's magnificent organ music. Tom Winpenny is Assistant Master of the Music at St Albans Cathedral where his duties include accompanying the daily choral services and directing the acclaimed Abbey Girls Choir. Previously, he was Sub-Organist at St Paul's Cathedral, and during this time he performed with the Cathedral Choir at the American Guild of Organists National Convention, performed in Mahler's Symphony no. 8 with Valery Gergiev and the LSO, and played for many great state occasions. He has also broadcast regularly on BBC Radio and been featured on American Public Media's Pipedreams. Since January 2016 he has been Musical Director of the London Pro Arte Choir.

Debut solo release from organist Jonathan Hope, Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral. Played on the stunning organ of Gloucester Cathedral, this recording includes the world premiere recording of John Hosking's Hommage � Paris.

Willowhayne Records presents the fifth volume in the critically acclaimed 'Experience' series, recorded on the 'Father Willis' organ of Hereford Cathedral. Played by Douglas Tang, this album shows this magnificent instrument to its full potential in music ranging from the early Baroque to the twentieth century, culminating in Whitlock's 'Plymouth Suite.' Douglas Tang is a sought-after British conductor and keyboardist. Currently based in London, he was previously Assistant Director of Music of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney and Chapel Organist of the UNESCO World Heritage site- the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He has also worked at Hereford Cathedral and Croydon Minister aside from having held the prestigious position of Organ Scholar of King’s College, Cambridge. The Hereford organ has been likened to a vintage Rolls Royce car, lovingly maintained, retaining its original and stately majest. Built in 1892 by ‘Father Willis,’ it replaced an earlier Gray and Davison instrument and its display case dates from 1863.