Francis Shaw: Piano Concertos

Featuring

Francis Shaw
Martin Jones
Slovak National Symphony Orchestra

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Composition History

Francis Shaw's First Piano Concerto was originally written in 1988 and then extensively revised in 2014, after his Second Concerto had already appeared.

Compositional Technique

Francis Shaw revised his First Piano Concerto to expand the original ideas, feeling that events passed too quickly and didn't allow the listener to be involved in a more spacious way.

Compositional Technique

The Second Piano Concerto by Francis Shaw has a longer gestation period of 17 years and features a larger orchestra than the First, including a third trumpet, trombones, tuba, and three percussion players.

Composer Biography

Francis Shaw, born in 1942, is a versatile British composer known for his work in film and television, as well as being a professor of composition and musical administrator.

Composition History

The First Piano Concerto by Francis Shaw was commissioned to mark the tercentenary of Windsor Guildhall, designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

Notable Performances

The original version of Francis Shaw's First Piano Concerto was premiered in May 1988 by Martin Jones with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the composer, in St George's Chapel, Windsor.

Composition History

Francis Shaw's Second Piano Concerto was initially commissioned in 1995 by the Festival Symphony Orchestra of Russia, but the commission was cancelled due to political changes.