Following the release of four critically acclaimed albums in as many years, the Divine Art label’s survey of the chamber music of British composer Robin Stevens will culminate, in spring/summer 2024, with A Questing Soul, comprising Robin’s most significant works for violin and piano. The music on this album spans almost thirty years, the two most substantial pieces – both duos – being the earliest: the tumultuous, single-movement Fantasy Sonata of 1985, and the epic, four-movement Sonata Tempesta of the following year. These are both products of the composer’s late twenties, marked by soaring lyricism and invigorating, pungent harmonies.

The remaining duos on the disc cover a wide stylistic range, from the jazzy Scherzo in Blue to the freshly melodious An Interrupted Waltz; from the turbulent Say Yes To Life, which stretches tonality almost to breaking-point, to the uncompromisingly atonal, yet deeply moving, Cri de Coeur. This generous selection also contains two miniatures for unaccompanied violin, and five for solo piano: in these works, humour and quirky playfulness abound, providing a perfect foil for the passionate intensity of the ambitious duo sonatas.

The performers on this release are the wife and husband duo Christine Townsend (violin) and Stephen Robbings (piano), both graduates of the Royal Academy in London. As a duo they are regular recitalists throughout the south of England. Christine’s freelance career includes being a guest leader of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, and Stephen, a celebrated Chopin player, is on the staff of Winchester College. Christine will be a welcome new addition to the Divine Art company’s almost 1000-strong roster of principal artists while Stephen previously contributed virtuosic performances of contemporary music for oboe and piano with Christopher Redgate (Métier MSV 28508).

A Questing Soul: Music by Robin Stevens for Violin and Piano (DDX 21121)

• Composer: Robin Stevens
• Artists: Christine Townsend (violin); Stephen Robbings (piano)
• Recorded at hallé St. Michael’s, Ancoats, Manchester, UK
  (session in July and October 2022, April 2023 and a last session on 13 December 2023)

Robin Stevens

Born in Wales in 1958, and growing up in a musical family in the south of England, Robin’s lyricism and his love of harmony may be traced to his years as a treble and (once his voice started to break) an alto singing in church choirs. Initially a first study cellist, at sixteen he performed the Elgar Cello Concerto, complete, with the Dartington College Orchestra. At eighteen he began the Joint Course at the Royal Northern College of Music (which he didn’t particularly enjoy) and Manchester University (which he did), graduating with honours in 1980. A year later, whilst completing an MA at Birmingham University, Robin wrote a String Quintet, his first major composition. Then followed five years working on the staff of a church in York as Music Director and Pastoral Worker, where he wrote a good deal of sacred vocal music, after which Robin taught for three years, heading up the Music Department of a Senior School in West Yorkshire. His fortunes took a serious dip in 1990 when he contracted ME, a debilitating illness from which he only recovered in 2007, after which, whilst continuing to compose, he earned his living as a personal tutor, mainly teaching nine- and ten-year-old children.

A committed Christian, Robin continues to be involved in church music, as cellist, keyboard player, vocalist and composer/arranger. In 2018 Robin was the grateful beneficiary of a considerable family legacy which has enabled him to embark on the project of recording all his major compositions with some of the foremost musicians in Britain. His works include a Te Deum for choir, soloists and orchestra; Mourning into Dancing for symphony orchestra; Brass Odyssey for brass band and six percussionists; concertos for bassoon, for cello, and for viola; two string quartets; a Sonata for Solo Cello; and Fantasy Sonata and Sonata Tempesta for violin and piano. Unsurprisingly, Robin has also written a large quantity of cello miniatures, including a meditative online collection entitled An Inward Journey, which he performs himself. Robin has also recorded two albums of songs, Fire and Inspire, and Whispers in the Wasteland.

Beyond his musical activities, Robin is a regular at parkrun in Wythenshawe, Manchester; tries to cycle rather than drive; is a voracious reader, especially of thrillers and biographies; preaches every couple of months at St. Mary’s Church, Sale; loves giving dinner-parties; and, despite his best efforts, remains Christendom’s most reluctant bachelor.

Robin Stevens Recordings on Divine Art