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Chamber Music of William Busch
Lyrita

Chamber Music of William Busch

$23.99

Details

Composer
William Busch
Artist
Michael Trainor, Zahra Benyounces, Jessie Ann Richardson, Simon Callaghan, Ashok Klouda
Format
CD
Label
Lyrita
Released
Jan 03, 2025
Catalog #
SRCD439
UPC
5020926043924

About

Three pieces for violin and piano were written as individual works and, as such, they can be presented separately or, if given collectively as a suite, played in any order. Busch wrote his Passacaglia for violin and viola in 1939, the score takes the form of a decisive, four-bar theme followed by thirty variants upon it. These mini-variations range widely in character, from trenchant and forceful to airy and smooth. A Memory for cello and piano was written for Elizabeth Poston. Busch subtly conveys the idea of a reminiscence suggested by the title with simple, lightly sketched ideas presented with an air of hazy nostalgia. Eventually, the feeling of distance and reserve created in the opening portion of the work is replaced by a more troubled mood. The music ends in sorrow with a heartfelt, steeply descending sequence for unaccompanied cello followed by the merest hint of the opening material. The Quartet for piano and strings is the most substantial of William Busch's chamber pieces. Although the composer's lyrical gifts are much in evidence, the four movements are also rigorously concise. Considerable dramatic rewards are gained from the creative tension between the music's unforced expressivity and the formal rigour with which Busch's powerful themes are worked out. The Suite for Cello and Piano is among Busch's most searching and variegated instrumental works. In a postwar assessment of the score, The Times' critic noted that it's four pieces 'reveal a sensitive and interesting mind'. Elegy for cello and piano exploits fully the stringed instrument's lyrical qualities and capacity for rich, autumnal colours. The work begins with an extended soliloquy for unaccompanied cello and the cellist continues to preside over the entire opening section, which features only a couple of brief interjections from the piano. © Paul Conway

Tracklist 14 tracks

  1. 1 No. 1. Cantilena: Larghetto con molto espressione 03:29
    Track
    1
    Title
    No. 1. Cantilena: Larghetto con molto espressione
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Michael Trainor, Simon Callaghan
  2. 2 No. 2. Caprice: Molto vivace, leggiero e ritmico 02:56
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 2. Caprice: Molto vivace, leggiero e ritmico
    Duration
    02:56
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Michael Trainor, Simon Callaghan
  3. 3 No. 3. Lacrimosa: Andante con molto espressione 05:31
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 3. Lacrimosa: Andante con molto espressione
    Duration
    05:31
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Michael Trainor, Simon Callaghan
  4. 4 Passacaglia 07:15
    Track
    4
    Title
    Passacaglia
    Duration
    07:15
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Michael Trainor, Zahra Benyounes
  5. 5 A Memory 03:22
    Track
    5
    Title
    A Memory
    Duration
    03:22
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Jessie Ann Richardson, Simon Callaghan
  6. 6 I. Allegro con brio 10:23
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Allegro con brio
    Duration
    10:23
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Simon Callaghan
    Ensemble
    members Piatti Quartet
  7. 7 II. Largo, molto cantabile ed espressivo 06:35
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Largo, molto cantabile ed espressivo
    Duration
    06:35
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Simon Callaghan
    Ensemble
    members Piatti Quartet
  8. 8 III. Molto vivace ed energico 07:12
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. Molto vivace ed energico
    Duration
    07:12
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Simon Callaghan
    Ensemble
    members Piatti Quartet
  9. 9 IV. Andante non troppo, con solennita 06:58
    Track
    9
    Title
    IV. Andante non troppo, con solennita
    Duration
    06:58
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Simon Callaghan
    Ensemble
    members Piatti Quartet
  10. 10 I. Prelude 04:37
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Prelude
    Duration
    04:37
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Ashok Klouda, Simon Callaghan
  11. 11 II. Capriccio 03:51
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Capriccio
    Duration
    03:51
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Ashok Klouda, Simon Callaghan
  12. 12 III. Nocturne 03:12
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Nocturne
    Duration
    03:12
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Ashok Klouda, Simon Callaghan
  13. 13 IV. Tarantella 02:38
    Track
    13
    Title
    IV. Tarantella
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Ashok Klouda, Simon Callaghan
  14. 14 Elegy 06:38
    Track
    14
    Title
    Elegy
    Duration
    06:38
    Composer
    William Busch
    Performer
    Ashok Klouda, Simon Callaghan