Peter Dickinson's arrangement of Samuel Barber's 'Canzonetta' is based on a manuscript oboe and piano score that contains details not found in the later published version.
Recording & Production
This album, titled 'Lockdown Blues', was recorded by Peter Dickinson at Potton Hall, Suffolk, in April 2021, during the pandemic lockdowns.
Performer Biography
Peter Dickinson, the pianist on this album, is a British composer, Emeritus Professor at two universities, and has published several books on composers like Lennox Berkeley, Aaron Copland, and John Cage.
Compositional Technique
Peter Dickinson's 'Lockdown Blues' is based on the harmony of the First Prelude in Book I of Bach's '48' The Well-Tempered Clavier, borrowing from his earlier work 'Bach in Blue'.
Recording & Production
The album features several first recordings, including Peter Dickinson's arrangement of Samuel Barber's 'Canzonetta' and his arrangements of twelve Duke Ellington melodies.
Album & Artwork
The front cover of the album is adapted from a 1928 Art Deco advertisement for the New York fashion house Swarzenbach, Huber & Co.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Peter Dickinson designed this recital as an 'easy-listening collection of short piano pieces' to offer gentle relaxation during the pandemic-enforced lockdowns.
