ALWYN Preludes. Hunter’s Moon. 2 Irish Pieces. Homage to Paul Gauguin. Cinderella. Water Lilies. Night Thoughts. Movements • Ashley Wass (pn) • NAXOS 8.570464 (72:21)

In Fanfare 31:6 I reviewed the first volume of piano music of William Alwyn, and now Naxos has given us a second. Alwyn was an English composer who lived from 1905 to 1985. My reactions to this disc are just as enthusiastic and positive as they were for its predecessor. Seriously interested readers can seek out that first review, and I’ll save precious space here by simply reiterating that Alwyn’s piano music is absorbing, varied, colorful, and inspired. Ashley Wass plays these pieces as if he’s lived with them for years, whether or not that is actually the case. Anyone who responds to the piano music of Debussy, Ravel, Grieg, Fauré or Prokofiev is likely to respond to Alwyn. Much gratitude to Naxos for this second volume.

FANFARE: Henry Fogel