Christopher Brown: 24 Preludes & Fugues
Show recording detailsSRCD2431
Originally recorded in 2023
Classical
Piano
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About
I set myself the challenge of writing a book of 24 preludes and fugues in all the major and minor keys and I approached family, friends, and several institutions I had been associated with, to commission a prelude and fugue each, with many of the resultant commissioners asking for references to pieces of music that had a special meaning for them, a request that I tried to follow through wherever possible. Within a very short space of time, I realised just what a task I had set myself. The project took me 8 years to complete, and it was not until 2019 that I finally put the finishing touches to the concluding B minor Fugue. The score was published on my birthday in June 2020 and I received an unexpected email from Nathan Williamson, saying that he would love to learn the music, and, because of the restrictions imposed by the covid lockdowns, it might be a good time to see if a complete recording might be contemplated. To our considerable delight, Lyrita Recorded Edition agreed to take on the project that has led to the release of the present boxed set. Very early in the planning process I had decided that the set would be divided into 4 books (each made up of 6 preludes and fugues) based around one of the notes of the name BACH (B flat, A, C and B natural in German notation), and starting and ending in the major or the minor tonality of the 4 keys. In addition I wanted to reference the cryptogram of Dmitri Shostakovich (DSCH – D, E flat, C and B), whose own masterly set of 24 Preludes and Fugues also casts its influence across my set. Christopher Brown
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Reviews
Interpretation ****** Sound ***** Repertoire ******
“… I can’t imagine the composer being less than ecstatic with Williamson’s pianism and Lyrita’s production values.”
“… Christopher Brown loves tunes, and these pieces delight at every turn. I cannot declare my admiration strongly enough…”
“…this is a remarkably assured set, one that in whole or in part deserves the widest currency. This is a tribute, too, to Nathan William’s fine, informed advocacy …”
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