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British Music Society

Dr Kenji Fujimura, piano, Rochelle Ughetti, violin and Noella Yan, cello, are Trio Anima Mundi. Based in Melbourne, the Trio are one of Australia’s most celebrated chamber ensembles.

Since their foundation in 2008, they have become renowned for their ‘Piano Trio Archaeology’ – the unearthing and performing of forgotten works for the medium. Alongside trios by composers whose names at least are known like Rutland Boughton and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, they offer first ever recordings of works by late 19th and early 20th century English composers, who despite producing works of remarkably fine quality have been unjustly forgotten.

As they are one of Australia’s premiere chamber ensembles, it does not need me to say that all five performances are of top quality. What astonishes me however is that all of the music, and two of the trios in particular, are absolutely outstanding.

Rosalind Ellicott (1857 – 1924) was ‘considered to be one of the leading female composers of her generation’. This first recording of her ‘Piano Trio No. 1 in F major’ puts her up there with the best, eg, Brahms was suggested in her day. The themes she uses are instantly attractive and the shaping of each of the three movements is superbly well crafted.

The opening Allegro con gracia blends the three instruments so well together. The second movement, the longest, brings out the qualities of the three instruments individually, especially the strings, then the clever combination of instruments that marked first movement returns for the finale. There are sparkling moments for the piano too for you to enjoy throughout the work.

The other really fine piece on the CD is quite different but every bit as appealing. Harry Waldo Warner (1874 – 1945) was for many years the viola player of the London String Quartet. His Piano Trio Op. 22 is more edgy but still easily approachable. It has great energy particularly in the second two movements with dazzling piano writing driving thrilling rhythmic intoxication. He also gives the music a decidedly oriental flavour, especially in his piano writing.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Trio in E minor is full of drive and energy. Rutland Boughton’s ‘Celtic Prelude’ has a marvellous passage for muted strings with bell-like piano, and then the ‘Trio: Folk Song Fantasy’ by James Cliffe Forrester expands delightfully on the Sussex folksong ‘Rosebud in June’ a Steeleye Span favourite, followed by ‘Twankydillo’.