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JANSMUSIC RECOMMENDED RECORDING

English Piano Trios
Cantamen
British Music Society BMS418CD
Bridge: Phantasie in C minor / James Friskin: Phantasie in E minor / John Ireland: Phantasie in A minor / E.J.Moeran: Piano Trio in D major

I know the choral music of Moeran and Ireland so was interested to hear this CD to see what else they did!  Rather bizarrely all the works bar the last on this CD are entitled "Phantasie" - this is due to the fact they were written specifically for a competition for a one-movement work.  Moeran's inclusion is due to his studies with Ireland.  The only criticism I would have about this CD is that the acoustic is a good deal too muffled for my taste - I find myself wanting a bit more shine, but the playing is heartfelt, and the music lilting.  I'm also a great fan of the BMS and their support of British music, particularly the lesser-known works which deserve an airing.

The Bridge is undeniably romantic in style, and there are some lovely drawn out solos for each of the instruments in turn, alternating with some almost orchestral writing. The last couple of minutes of the work feature some incredibly stirring imitative writing, before a rousing finish.  The Friskin (okay, I've never heard of him I have to confess) begins darkly, more contemplative, and he remains in the minor for the spirited allegro. There's definitely an Eastern European flavour in there somewhere too, before the violin breaks out into a blossoming melody that introduces a sublime adagio section which is like the sun suddenly coming out through the clouds. In the piano writing there is again that element of the large romantic work - reminiscences of the great concertos of that time. Very occasionally the intonation slips a little, but the music is just so wonderful you can forgive them this.

Right from the first note of the Ireland we are faced with a passionate outpouring of sound, as though he wants to wring every ounce of sound out of the instruments.  The CD notes tell us that Ireland had withdrawn a lot of his early works from circulation, but this one he allowed to survive.  In this I hear a lot of impressionist echoes, mingled with the high drama and passion which were to become trademarks of Ireland's later output. 

The Moeran is a "proper" string trio - in four movements.  It is a more complex work than the others on the CD and looking at the booklet I see it dates from around 18 years later. The ideas are more developed, and there is less of a tendency to hark back to the romantic era, and more of the composer emerging as his own voice, and exploring new sonorities, while not overstepping the boundaries. What do I mean by this?  Well, I can't really explain in so many words - it's well worth buying this CD just to see for yourself how this writing seems to have moved on.