Prima Facie Records

Prelude and Dance (PFCD244) £12.50/£17.50

Compositions for piano by Imogen Holst, Anna McClure, Susan Spain-Dunk and Luke Whitlock
Performed by Duncan Honeybourne

Imogen Holst (1907-1984)

1. Prelude and Dance (1939), recording premiere [03.59]
2. Theme and Variations (1926), recording premiere [15:35]
Six Pieces from Finland (1934), recording premiere
3. On The Lake [00:45]
4. The Dancer in The Red Skirt [00:42]
5. The Old Woodcutter [01:16]
6. The Spinner’s Song [01:19]
7. A Shower Among the Birch Trees [00:28]
8. Night Piece [00:53]
Five Short Pieces (1934), recording premiere
9. Prelude [01:15]
10. March [01:06]
11. Canon [00:57]
12. Toccata [00:38]
13. Nocturne [01:21]

Anna McClure (b.1970) For Cal, a suite for solo piano (2023), world premiere

14. Findhorn [05:39]
15. Cal’s Song [03:09]
16. Transition [02:47]
17. Home [03:10]
18. Wild Mountain Time [04:43]

Susan Spain-Dunk (1880-1962)

19. Piano Prelude No 1 (1941), recording premiere [05:02]
20. Piano Prelude No 2 (1941), recording premiere [03:46]

Luke Whitlock (b.1978) Prayers and Reflections (2022-24), world premiere

21. Morning Prayer [02:14]
22. Reflections in the Rain [03:23]
23. Midday Prayer [01:54]
24. Afternoon Reflection [02:30
25. Prayer at Evening [01:58]
26. Reflections Towards the End of Day [04:16]
27. Prayer at the Close [01:18]

Total Time [76:17]

About this Album

Imogen Holst was a talented and prolific composer, a pillar of twentieth century classical music, whose sizable body of work remains largely neglected. Prima Facie releases here the recording premiere of a selection of original solo piano music by Holst, including Prelude and Dance (Faber) composed in the year WWII broke out, along with an equally confident student work, her Theme and Variations (Faber). Holst influenced generations of music students as a teacher, and this recording features two sets of didactic works including Six Pictures from Finland (OUP), and Five Short Pieces (OUP). This release also includes the recording premiere of Two Piano Preludes by Susan Spain-Dunk, who was the second women ever to conduct at the Proms. Two world premieres of a more personal and intimate nature complete this collection, firstly by composer Anna McClure, her For Cal suite reflecting upon the passing of her eldest son. Finally, music by Luke Whitlock, who devised this recording project; his contemplative Prayers and Reflections is a suitable calming way to conclude.

Credits

Recorded at Holy Trinity Parish Church, Hereford, UK 7th April & 6th May, 2024
Producer Luke Whitlock
Engineer Steve Plews
Editor Simon Crosby Buttle & Phil Hardman
Booklet design Simon Crosby Buttle
Page-turner Agnes Pottage
Photograph of Imogen Holst at music desk, © Britten Pears Arts. Photographer Nigel Luckhurst, 1975. Image courtesy of Britten Pears Arts (brittenpearsarts.org) Ref: HOL/2/11/10/7.
Photograph of Imogen Holst in the Great Hall at Dartington by Humphrey Sutton during the 1976 Tagore Festival, from The Dartington Archive, with permission of Dartington Trust and The Elmgrant Trust.
Photograph of Cal and Anna McClure, 2018.
Photograph of Susan Spain-Dunk conducting the Royal Artillery Band in 1932, provided by the composer's grandson, David Gibson.

Duncan Honeybourne enjoys a colourful and diverse career as a pianist and in music education. Commended for his "gripping performances" (The Times), "glittering performances" (International Piano) and "great technical facility and unfailing imagination" (Musical Opinion), Duncan is best known for his interpretations of 20th and 21st century British piano music. Following concerto debuts at Symphony Hall, Birmingham and the National Concert Hall, Dublin, he made recital debuts in London, Dublin, Paris, and at international festivals in Belgium and Switzerland. His debut recital disc was described by Gramophone magazine as “not to be missed by all lovers of English music”, whilst BBC Music Magazine reported: “There are gorgeous things here. Hard to imagine better performances.” Honeybourne has toured extensively in the UK, Ireland and Europe as solo and lecture recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician, appearing at many major venues and leading festivals. His solo performances have been frequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and more than 20 networks worldwide. Premieres of over 70 solo works written for him have included John Joubert's Third Piano Sonata, John Casken's Tempus Plangendi and Cecilia McDowall's Notes from Abroad, plus the Andrew Downes Piano Concerto at Birmingham Town Hall. Duncan teaches piano and chamber music at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Academy, is a Lecturer in Piano at the University of Southampton and gives regular masterclasses and adjudications. He is Founder/Artistic Director of the Weymouth Lunchtime Chamber Concerts near his home in Dorset.