Prima Facie Records

3 Preludes and Fugues (PFV004)

3 Preludes and 3 Fugues on the codes D.G. 5-8-1-5-5-2-3-5, for solo piano – composed by David F. Golightly and performed by Simon Conning

This recording is the fourth in the Prima Facie 'Vignette' series of download / streaming-only releases by contemporary composers. It features compositions for solo piano by the British composer David F. Golightly.

Available on Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon Music | YouTube

Three Preludes + Fugues on the codes D.G. 5-8-1-5-5-2-3-5

1 Prelude No 1 Sostenuto 8-3 [1.23]
2 Fugue No 1 Moderato 1-5-8 [1.36]
3 Prelude No 2 Vigoroso Fuoco 1-3-13-15 [1.08]
4 Fugue No 2 Con umore Burlesco 5-2-15-41 [1.48]
5 Prelude No 3 Leggiero 1-2-5-5-24 [1.06]
6 Fugue No 3 Con umore 1-3-8-24-1 [1.27]

About this Vignette

"I met David Golightly in the mid 1990s, when he was trying to set up an organisation to represent composers in the north-west of England. He succeeded, forming the North West Composers Association, and I was honoured to be David’s right-hand man in the early days – we shared a love of contemporary music (and football). David worked tirelessly for composers in the area, putting on concerts, releasing CDs, and attracting funding for a variety of successful projects, as well as composing prolifically himself. Sadly, David’s life was cut short in 2018. I was approached by the executors of David's will, Doug and Gillian Wright, to organise a recital and subsequent recording of his 3 Preludes and Fugues for solo piano. I am extremely grateful to Doug and Gillian, and to Simon Conning for his dedication in recording these fascinating pieces and his performance in recital."
Stephen Plews, 2025.

Credits

Recorded at St Elizabeth’s Church, Ashley, Cheshire in November 2024, using a Bösendorfer piano.
Pianist: Simon Conning
Engineer: Steve Plews
Producer: Tim Walton
Post Production: Simon Crosby Buttle

David F. Golightly (1948-2018) studied composition with Richard Steinitz at Huddersfield University. He was born in Co Durham in 1948. A number of his compositions have been commissioned by eminent performers, including “Moods” for Roger Heaton, and “Rites of Passage” and “The St Petersburg Mass” for The Soglasie Male Voice Choir of St Petersburg (premiered in 1994, at the State Capella Hall, St Petersburg). Important premieres, recordings and commissions include the “Piano Trio" (Fenice Trio Recording), "Concerto for Strings" (Kiev Philharmonic CD recording ERM masterworks series, released June 2006), “Second Symphony” (dedicated to Serge Inkov, Choral master Kirov, premiered 2006 in St Petersburg, Russia), Symphony No 1 ('The Middlesbrough', premiered by Royal Northern Sinfonia in Middlesbrough, September 2011), and "Housman settings for Mezzo Soprano and Piano" (premiered in New York, in 2011 – Emily Cobley mezzo soprano, Beth Levin piano).

Simon Conning began his studies with Marjorie Kelly in Macclesfield, then continued at the Royal Northern College of Music’s Junior Department in Manchester with Marjorie Clementi. He went on to study at the Royal College of Music in London with Yu Chun-Yee. Simon is working on a number of recording projects with the Prima Facie Records label.