Vaughan Williams: Piano Quintet, Quintet in D Major, & 6 Studies in English Folk Song London Soloists Ensemble

• 1 I. Allegro con fuoco 10:13
• 2 II. Andante 10:46
• 3 III. Fantasia, quasi variazioni: Moderato 10:19
• 4 Romance for Viola and Piano 06:47
• 5 I. Allegro moderato 07:01
• 6 II. Intermezzo: Allegretto 03:55
• 7 III. Andantino 07:59
• 8 IV. Finale: Allegro molto 06:31
• 9 No. 1. Adagio (Lovely on the Water) 01:21
• 10 No. 2. Andante sostenuto (Spurn Point) 01:12
• 11 No. 3. Larghetto (Van Dieman's Land) 01:43
• 12 No. 4. Lento (She Borrowed Some of her Mother's Gold) 01:42
• 13 No. 5. Andante tranquillo (The Lady and the Dragon) 01:52
• 14 No. 6. Allegro vivace (As I Walked over London Bridge) 00:56
• Total Runtime 01:12:17

Info for Vaughan Williams: Piano Quintet, Quintet in D Major, & 6 Studies in English Folk Song

Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote chamber music throughout his long creative life. The Piano Quintet in C minor uses the same rich instrumentation as Schubert’s ‘Trout’ Quintet, while the life-enhancing Quintet in D major has an alluring wit and playfulness of its own. Vaughan Williams’s discovery of English folk song contributed greatly to his mature creative voice, the Six Studies introducing subtle elaborations on each of the themes, while the origins of the undated but expressive Romance remain a mystery.

“As the London Soloists Ensemble reveals in these excellent, beautifully modulated performances, the music deserves to be heard...The disc gives an intriguing picture of the evolution of his musical vocabulary.” (The Daily Telegraph)

“They are lovely — romantic, melodious, wistful, beautifully crafted — even though they sound more like Elgar or Brahms than VW, with scarcely a modal harmony in an hour of music. Gently beguiling performances from top-notch players.” (The Times)

Lorraine McAslan, violin (on tracks 1–3, 5–8)
Sarah-Jane Bradley, viola (on tracks 1–3, 4)
Karine Georgian, cello (on tracks 1–3, 5–8)
John Lenehan, piano (on tracks 1–14)
Anthony Pike, clarinet (on tracks 5–14)
Chris West, double bass (on tracks 1–3)
Tim Jackson, French Horn (on tracks 5–8)

Recorded in the Music Room at Champs Hill, Coldwaltham, West Sussex, UK, 2–4 July 2013
Produced and engineered by Michael Ponder

London Soloists Ensemble
Formed in 2011 by some of Britainʼs most distinguished musicians, the London Soloists Ensemble have very quickly established themselves as a chamber group of superb quality. Appointed as ʻAssociate Ensembleʼ by St Johnʼs Smith Square in London, they began their first series of Sunday afternoon concerts at this prestigious venue in June 2013. In a busy first season they also broadcast for BBC Radio 3 and have appeared in festivals and arts centres throughout the United Kingdom.

One of the most distinguished British violinists of her generation, Lorraine McAslan studied at The Juilliard School in New York with Dorothy DeLay. She has appeared as soloist with major orchestras throughout Europe and was for several seasons first violin of the Maggini String Quartet. Sarah-Jane Bradley has established a distinguished international reputation as a solo violist. As a former founder member of the Leopold String Trio and subsequently a member of the Sorrel Quartet, she has performed at some of the worldʼs most prestigious festivals and is also known as a pioneer of new music for the viola with an ever growing list of new works written especially for her. Karine Georgian, Gold Medal winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition, is an internationally admired representative of the golden generation of Russian string play-ers and has appeared as soloist with leading orchestras and conductors world-wide. The New York Times described John Lenehan as a pianist of “great flair and virtuosity” and he has performed worldwide to critical acclaim as soloist and chamber musician. He is also in demand as an arranger and orchestrator. Anthony Pike was born in Seoul, Korea, and studied the clarinet in London with Julian Farrell, Dame Thea King and in Chicago with Robert Marcellus. He is principal clarinet of the English Chamber Orchestra and has performed concertos with them throughout the world.

The London Soloists Ensemble are joined for this recording by Chris West (double bass) and Tim Jackson (French horn). Chris West appears regularly as guest principal with many of Britainʼs major orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Academy of St Martin-in-the-fields and the English Chamber Orchestra. The multi-talented Tim Jackson is principal horn of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also in demand as a period instrument horn player and, as composer, his works (especially for brass ensemble) have been heard worldwide.

Booklet for Vaughan Williams: Piano Quintet, Quintet in D Major, & 6 Studies in English Folk Song