WILLIAM ALWYN (1905-1985)

 

Piano Music 2

 

Twelve Preludes (1958)

Hunter’s Moon (1932)*

Two Irish Pieces (1926)*

Contes Barbares (Homage to Paul Gauguin) (1930-33)*

Cinderella (1952)*

Water Lilies (1952)*

Night Thoughts (1939)

Movements (1961)

 

*World Première Recordings

 

Ashley Wass - piano

 

Alwyn’s approach to writing for the piano was essentially that of a romantic, born out of the tradition exemplified by Liszt and Rachmaninov, through to the impressionism inherent in the music of Debussy and Ravel. Influences aside, however, Alwyn found his own individual way in writing for the piano, as can be heard from the works presented here. His intuitive writing for the instrument resulted not just in virtuoso pieces for the concert hall, but also sensitive miniatures of a highly expressive nature, along with many educational pieces for examination purposes.

 

Naxos 8570464