2012 Albion Records / Ralph Vaughan Williams Society UK release

Albion Records presents the world-premiere recording of Job - a Masque for Dancing in an arrangement for solo piano by Vally Lasker. This arrangement was made in the summer of 1930 to support rehearsals by dancers of the Camargo Society who were staging the work in 1931. Lasker was an excellent pianist who had shown her prowess as an arranger when she undertook Vaughan Williams's a London Symphony in 1920. It is an imaginative and skillful transcription that brings fresh insights into one of the composer's greatest works. Also included are Vaughan Williams's the Lake in the Mountains, as well as the Hymn Tune Prelude on 'Song 13' by Orlando Gibbons together with six beautiful Preludes by Ivor Gurney.

Ivor Gurney’s The Five Preludes for piano date from the second half of 1919 written during a period of remarkable and unexpected creativity from the 29 year old composer and published war poet, with over 40 songs composed and 80 poems written. Gurney was taught by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1919 at the RCM. In 1922 ill health got the better of Gurney and he was sent to the City of London Mental Hospital where he remained until his death in 1937.

"Iain Burnside presents impressive solo credentials: the serious technical demands of the Job arrangement cause him no problems, while his flair for conjuring orchestra-like colours from the keyboard is of the very highest standard of play"--BBC Music magazine

For works / track listing see image of rear insert

Used CD in Ex / VG condition. Stock photos