Five of the works on this album are world première recordings, covering a period of fifty years of William Alwyn's compositions.
Composer Biography
William Alwyn was made a fellow of The British Film Academy for his services to the film medium, an honour he was the only composer to receive until very recently.
Composer Biography
William Alwyn played flute in the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Edward Elgar and appeared on Elgar's recordings for HMV in the late 1920s.
Composer Biography
William Alwyn began his serious musical studies at age fifteen at the Royal Academy of Music as a flautist, and six years later was appointed Professor of Composition, a position he held for thirty years.
Performer Biography
Madeleine Mitchell, one of Britain's most celebrated violinists, is a Professor at the Royal College of Music and Artistic Director of the Red Violin festival.
Composer Biography
William Alwyn was a prolific composer who also wrote poetry, a short autobiography, a diary, and many paintings, and was an art collector.
Composer's Artistic Vision
William Alwyn, like his contemporary Samuel Barber, was an unashamed Romantic who preferred his music to appeal to the heart rather than to the head.
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Britten: Fanfare for St. Edmondsbury / Suite No. 1 / Sinfonietta
O Gladsome Light: Sacred Songs, Hymns & Meditations
Colin Matthews: Chamber Works
Blow: An ode on the death of Mr. Henry Purcell etc.
Roxanna Panufnik: Heartfelt
Vocal Recital: Baird, Julianne - Purcell, H. / Arne, T.A. / Blow, J. (English Mad Songs and Ayres)
Ferrabosco & Byrd: Consort Music
Dowland: Shadows
Dances from John Dowland's Lachrimae and Consort music and songs by William Byrd
