John McLeod – Complete Solo Piano Music
John McLeod is better known as a composer than as a pianist (his performing career was as a clarinettist and conductor), but his love of the piano began as a schoolboy growing up in Aberdeen, and this empathy with the instrument has resulted in a wealth of works for the piano, written over a period of more than 50 years. This new recording of his works for solo piano was made ‘live’ at four concerts given in the Stoller Hall, Manchester as part of the Chetham’s International School and Festival for Pianists, 2017.
The virtuosic skill of both pianists is evident in the accuracy, intensity and flow of the music in these live performances. Murray McLachlan, who performs most of the works, is one of Britain’s most celebrated pianists and has a long and prolific recording history with Divine Art labels and before that with the now-defunct Olympia. We are delighted to welcome to our family of Divine Artists Rose McLachlan, performing the Hebridean Dances in her recording debut at the age of 14.
This double album is generously filled with over 158 minutes of music. It includes all five piano sonatas and Murray McLachlan’s transcription of the Gloriana Fantasy, originally scored for guitar and now a virtuosic showpiece for the keyboard.
Track Listing
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John McLeod (b.1934):
- Four Impromptus - I. Allegro energico
- Four Impromptus - II. Lento e tranquillo
- Four Impromptus - III. Andante cantabile
- Four Impromptus - IV. Allegro risoluto
- Hebridean Dances - I. Going West
- Hebridean Dances - II. Dance to your Shadow
- Hebridean Dances - III. The Harp of Dunvegan
- Hebridean Dances - IV/V. Barra Love Lilt / The Cockle Gatherer
- Twelve Preludes - No. 1 Con brio
- Twelve Preludes - No. 2 Con moto e pomposo
- Twelve Preludes - No. 3 Adagio quasi una chorale
- Twelve Preludes - No. 4 Allegro martellato
- Twelve Preludes - No. 5 Adagio - Notturno mistico
- Twelve Preludes - No. 6 Grazioso con moto
- Twelve Preludes - No. 7 Giocoso
- Twelve Preludes - No. 8 Maestoso e grandioso
- Twelve Preludes - No. 9 Allegro agitato
- Twelve Preludes - No. 10 Adagio languido
- Twelve Preludes - No. 11 Allegro energico
- Twelve Preludes - No. 12 Lento sostenuto
- Three Protest Pieces - I. "The fox, in agony, surrenders his blood to the night"
- Three Protest Pieces - II. "A mountain stream, poisoned and choked by effluvium, struggles to reach the sea."
- Three Protest Pieces - III. "The stag, its heart pierced by an arrow, disappears into the mist."
- Three Interludes from 'Another Time, Another place' - I. Dolente semplice
- Three Interludes from 'Another Time, Another place' - II. Andantino semplice
- Three Interludes from 'Another Time, Another place' - III. Allegretto scherzando
- Haflidi's Pictures - I. A Fish can Sing
- Haflidi's Pictures - II. Snakes in the Garden
- Haflidi's Pictures - III. A Holy Man with a Cross
- Haflidi's Pictures - IV. A Devil in a Cupboard
- Haflidi's Pictures - V. Fragments from a Picture
- Haflidi's Pictures - VI. Tortured by Noise
- Haflidi's Pictures - VII. Silence
- Haflidi's Pictures - VIII. An Italian Huntsman
- Haflidi's Pictures - IX. A Winter Landscape
- Haflidi's Pictures - X. A Witch on a Pedestal
- Haflidi's Pictures - XI. To the Heart of the Matter
- Haflidi's Pictures - XII. A Musician on the Move
- Piano Sonata No. 1 (in one movement)
- Piano Sonata No. 2 - I. Adagio e quasi misura - Allegro vivo
- Piano Sonata No. 2 - II. Adagietto
- Piano Sonata No. 2 - III. Allegro energico
- Piano Sonata No. 3 (in one movement)
- Piano Sonata No. 4 - I. Vivo e leggiero
- Piano Sonata No. 4 - II. Tranquillo ed espressivo
- Piano Sonata No. 4 - III. Vivo e capriccioso
- Piano Sonata No. 5 (in one movement)
- Fantasy on Themes from Britten's opera "Gloriana"
Reviews
“An outstanding set, exceedingly generous in offering shy on 160 minutes of the composer’s works. McLachlan shows himself capable of moments of extreme power, but equally sensitive to the most delicate of pianissimos. Superb pianism and energy. The studio-quality [live concert] recording and piano sound was absolutely second to none.
” —Philip R Buttall
“Two very well-filled discs in excellent acoustic… this is impressive music, persuasively performed. (Four stars)
” —Colin Clarke
“McLachlan Sr’s playing is impressive, from the off playing quickly but accurately. In places this flows like a river in flood, the notes cascading out of the speakers but McLachlan always in control. McLachlan Jr plays on a couple of tracks and is equally impressive. McLeod goes in for big, bold direct sounds, although despite the complexity it’s got a directness about it. A stimulating programme.
” —Jeremy Condliffe
“The music on this set is not without lyricism but it’s far more likely to be jagged; it’s not without intimacy, but it’s far more likely to be vehement; it’s not without moments of consonant beauty, but it’s far more likely to be densely dissonant. For the most part, this is deadly serious music. It also demands tremendous concentration from the performer—and Murray McLachlan plays with virtuosity and commitment. McLachlan’s young daughter (16 at the time of this recording) acquits herself nimbly in the Hebridean Dances, and McLeod is a wonderfully deadpan narrator in Haflidi s Pictures. An adventurous project.
” —Peter J. Rabinowitz
“A comprehensive live record of five decades of McLeod piano works which McLachlan takes in his stride. Not without its challenges, for both listener and performer.
” —Michael Beek
“This double CD is hugely generous. We are very much in safe hands when our guide is the marvellous Murray McLachlan. He leads us through the most complex and exciting percussive passages with a ferocious virtuosity and startling precision, then through quieter music bringing out all the varied depths of feeling that McLeod has imprinted in these full colour compositions. An absolute delight.
” —Alan Cooper
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