English Viola Sonatas

Featuring

Martin Outram
Julian Rolton
Gordon Jacob
John Ireland
Malcolm Arnold
Frederick Delius

Lennox Berkeley

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Composition History

The viola repertoire grew significantly in the 20th century, largely due to the pioneering efforts of soloist Lionel Tertis.

Performer Biography

Martin Outram, the violist on this recording, plays on a very fine viola made by Henricus Catenar in Turin in 1680.

Composer Biography

John Ireland, a composer who studied at the Royal College of Music, found his unique musical voice influenced by the writings of Arthur Machen, whose interest in magic and ancient rituals he found alluring.

Composition History

Malcolm Arnold, a prolific composer, wrote 115 film and documentary scores, including his most famous for The Bridge on the River Kwai, for which he won an Oscar.

Recording & Production

This album includes world premiere recordings of John Ireland's Cello Sonata (transcribed by Lionel Tertis) and Frederick Delius's Cello Sonata (transcribed by Martin Outram) in their viola versions.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Gordon Jacob, a composer and authority on orchestration, believed in the importance of communication in music and felt repelled by the 'intellectual snobbery of some progressive artists'.