Bantock Violin Sonatas Nos 1 & 2; Cronach; Salve Regina
Exemplary worldpremière recordings of some appealing discoveries
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Granville Bantock
Genre:
Chamber
Label: Dutton Laboratories
Magazine Review Date: 10/2002
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 64
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: CDLX7119

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Violin Sonata No 1 |
Granville Bantock, Composer
Granville Bantock, Composer Lorraine McAslan, Violin Michael Dussek, Piano |
Violin Sonata No 2 |
Granville Bantock, Composer
Granville Bantock, Composer Lorraine McAslan, Violin Michael Dussek, Piano |
Coronach (Pro Patria Mori) |
Granville Bantock, Composer
Granville Bantock, Composer Lorraine McAslan, Violin Michael Dussek, Piano |
Salve Regina, 'Hail, Queen of Heaven' |
Granville Bantock, Composer
Granville Bantock, Composer Lorraine McAslan, Violin Michael Dussek, Piano |
Author:
Dedicated to that great British violinist Albert Sammons‚ the first of Bantock’s three violin sonatas was penned in 192829 and actually appeared in print a year before its first performance (part of a BBC broadcast from June 2‚ 1930‚ with Sammons accompanied by the composer). It’s a work of strong appeal‚ whose cleancut‚ songful demeanour would seem tailormade for its legendary dedicatee’s wonderfully sweet timbre; but somewhat surprisingly‚ given its lyricism and thematic resourcefulness‚ it failed to secure a place in the repertoire.
The opening movement of its D major successor followed quickly in April 1929‚ but it was another three years before the two remaining movements were completed. Annotator Lewis Foreman tells us that Bantock then filed the manuscript away until 1939‚ when Arthur Catterall (leader of Boult’s magnificent BBC Symphony Orchestra) requested a new work. Again‚ the Sonata was promptly published and premièred on the BBC on July 7‚ 1940‚ but it sank into total oblivion thereafter – a great pity in view of its brighteyed vigour‚ deftness of touch and impeccable craftsmanship.
Two shorter pieces bring up the rear: originally conceived for strings‚ organ and harp‚ Coronach (1918) is a wistful elegy in memory of a friend who had perished in the trenches three years previously; the contemplative Salve Regina is based on a plainsong melody Bantock had heard in Canada during the summer of 1923.
Inquisitive readers need not hold back‚ for these interpretations from Lorraine McAslan and Michael Dussek are consistently compelling and surefooted. With admirable productionvalues from the trusty Ponder/Faulkner team‚ this is another winning addition to what is turning out to be an invaluable series.
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.

Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
Subscribe
Gramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.