John Ireland's Second Violin Sonata caused a sensation at its 1917 premiere, leading to immediate critical acclaim and the publisher Winthrop Rogers buying the manuscript before the composer had even breakfasted.
Critical Reception
John Ireland's Second Violin Sonata was so popular at its premiere that the first edition sold out before it could even be put on sale, making Ireland famous overnight.
Composer Biography
Franz Reizenstein, born in Nuremberg, Germany, was recognized as a child prodigy, composing his first piece by the age of five.
Composer Biography
Franz Reizenstein fled to England in 1934 due to the political situation in Germany, continuing his composition studies with Vaughan Williams at the Royal College of Music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Franz Reizenstein rejected avant-garde trends, believing in a powerful, tonal musical tradition and carving out his own distinctive language using traditional means.
Composer Biography
Geoffrey Bush, a composer on this album, spent five formative years as a chorister at Salisbury Cathedral and later studied composition with John Ireland, another composer featured on this album.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Geoffrey Bush, a composer on this album, was a fervent advocate for British Music, rallying against foreign trends and believing British composers should find their own English voice.
