Piano Concerto No 1 'The Song of Gwyn ap Nudd', Op 52 (Holbrooke)
from Holbrooke & Wood (H): Piano Concertos (CDA67127)
1 Maestoso Allegro 'Open the gates of mirrored horn!' [2'07]
2 Animato 'Ye guards of my hold whom wanderers fear' [0'50]
3 A tempo 'Harness a steed from the gnomes dark fields' [0'17]
4 A tempo 'Vapour of night be thou my shield' [2'16]
5 'Swift through the dell where the young bats wake' [0'49]
6 A tempo 'The armies of night are abroad' [0'58]
7 Tempo primo 'Here lies the field that was laid to our hand' [2'19]
8 'Deep in the mould lies the golden helmed all' [2'16]
9 Più mosso al fine 'No spectre of them will answer my call' [0'47]
10 Poco adagio con sentimento 'Faint as the faith of our people long dying' [4'27]
11 Tempo poco Allegretto Poco Scherzando 'Clotted of shadows he comes to my hest' [2'29]
12 Tempo I 'Daughter of Lear' [1'12]
13 'O God of our torment lean down and decide that we shall never meet again' [1'12]
14 Allegro, molto fuoco 'Blade that meets blade with never a sound' [1'19]
15 'Face me afresh though the night hour fails' [1'01]
16 Tempo poco Larghetto 'Back to your grave' [1'34]
17 Tempo primo 'Break back from the battle' [0'51]
18 'Away from this land, Fairy folk all' [0'48]
19 Poco lento 'Flit ye away while the shadows mate Branch and blest earth' [2'17]
20 L'istesso tempo (Doppio) 'For scorn follows fast on the Fairy King's fate' [0'52]
21 Cadenza [3'12]
22 Grandioso – brillante 'She was the most splendid maiden' [1'59]
35 minutes 52 seconds 22 tracks
‘Superlative performances of two forgotten British gems … an altogether exemplary release’ (Gramophone)
‘The playing is first class and the recording is super’ (American Record Guide)
‘Extremely well played by Hamish Milne and the excellent BBC Scottish Symphony. If you are attracted by the repertoire, give it a try: you will not be disappointed’ (International Record Review)