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Walton: Piano Quartet, Violin Sonata & Toccata / Jones, Bradley, Lowe, Thwaite


Release Date: 11/27/2020 
Label:  Naxos   Catalog #: 8573892  
Composer:  Sir William Walton
Performer:  Sarah-Jane Bradley,  Matthew Jones,  Annabel Thwaite,  Tim Lowe
Number of Discs: 1 
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Notes and Editorial Reviews

These four works represent all of Sir William Walton’s chamber music involving both violin and piano, as well as being a microcosm of his compositional output between 1918 and 1950. They offer a fascinating glimpse of Walton’s stylistic journey, from the youthful exuberance of the early Piano Quartet and the Toccata to the unconventional but masterful Violin Sonata, and the Two Pieces with their connection to his music for films. Matthew Jones and Annabel Thwaite’s recording of works by Benjamin Britten (Naxos 8.573136) was summed up as ‘superb’ by BBC Music Magazine. Many of the works in this programme are not unfamiliar on recordings, but this is the first single-disc release to include all of the composer’s chamber works involving both Read more violin and piano. The presence of the often overlooked Toccata is unusual, and shows a dimension of Walton’s music that is rarely given mention. The album is the result of a Guildhall School research project entitled ‘Walton: his voice through the violin’, inspired by violinist Matthew Jones’s lifelong love of Walton’s music.

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REVIEW:

The adventurous Toccata and the Two Pieces are persuasively performed by the Naxos team. The assembled players show a clear commitment to the music, contributing much to the enjoyment of listening to this recording.

– MusicWeb International Read less

Works on This Recording

1.
Quartet for Piano and Strings by Sir William Walton
Performer:  Sarah-Jane Bradley (Viola), Matthew Jones (Violin), Annabel Thwaite (Piano),
Tim Lowe (Cello)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: England 
2.
Toccata for Violin and Piano by Sir William Walton
Performer:  Matthew Jones (Violin), Annabel Thwaite (Piano)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: ?1923; England 
3.
Pieces (2) for Violin and Piano by Sir William Walton
Performer:  Matthew Jones (Violin), Annabel Thwaite (Piano)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1949-1950; England 
4.
Sonata for Violin and Piano by Sir William Walton
Performer:  Matthew Jones (Violin), Annabel Thwaite (Piano)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1949; England 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 1 Customer Review )
 Glorious January 25, 2021 By J. Tatnall (West Grove, PA) See All My Reviews "From the opening measures of the Piano Quartet, one is swept away by this glorious music. Walton's music is melodic and richly harmonic. He knows how to develop a theme and orchestrate. His chamber music is as rich and fulfilling as his symphonies. Beautiful playing from all involved and first class sonics are hallmarks of this recording." Report Abuse
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