Douglas Finch, the pianist on this album, won a Silver Medal at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels in 1978 and is known for his improvisations on audience-suggested themes.
Composer Biography
Roger Smalley, the composer of the works on this album, was born near Manchester in 1943 and studied piano and composition in London and with Karlheinz Stockhausen.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at the Church of St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead, London, in July and September 2003.
Compositional Technique
Despite appearances, Smalley's music remains modernist at heart, manipulating pitch and duration through rigorously worked-out schemes, rather than being neo-romantic or postmodern.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Smalley's recent music, including works on this album, derives movements or entire works from Romantic masters like Chopin and Brahms, a significant development in his compositional approach.
Album & Artwork
The album's cover photo and booklet design were created by François Hall.
