Cyril Scott (1879-1970) was a published poet, translator, and author on diverse subjects including theosophy, mysticism, and biochemistry, in addition to his musical career.
Composition History
The piano quintet, a combination of piano, two violins, viola, and cello, was a relatively new genre, invented by Robert Schumann in 1842.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Cyril Scott's harmonic language, characterized by quasi-modal chords and a lack of traditional tonal centers, was praised by George Bernard Shaw, who noted that Elgar's modern harmonies were influenced by Scott.
Composer Biography
Frank Bridge (1879-1941) was a highly talented musician, skilled as a violinist, cellist, pianist, and conductor, and was a founder member of the English String Quartet.
Recording & Production
This recording was made with financial support from the Frank Bridge Trust and was originally released on the British Music Society (BMS) label.
Performer Biography
Raphael Terroni (1945-2012), the pianist on this recording, was Head of Piano at the London College of Music and Media and a founder member and former Chairman of the British Music Society.
Compositional Technique
Cyril Scott's Piano Quintet No. 1 features constantly changing meters, a technique he developed with Percy Grainger (a fellow student at Frankfurt) to create a continuous, lyrical narrative.
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