For as long as possible I shall restrict myself to facts. Amy Beach, born in 1867, was a prodigy who could faithfully reproduce musical sounds at the age of one and improvised at the piano (presumably to pleasing effect) at four. She died in 1944 with more than 300 compositions to her name: orchestral, instrumental and vocal, including an opera. The present compilation offers 17 songs, two pieces for three instruments and three for piano and cello. Most of the songs are performed with obbligato by flute or cello or both. The singer is a male soprano, winner in Germany of numerous prizes, praised particularly for his work in Baroque opera and for singing and dancing in Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins. The Meininger Trio takes its name from the group’s flautist and is associated most notably with the work of modern composers and of what is referred to as the French impressionists.

Moving from fact to opinion, it is safe to say that there may be some interest in hearing a male soprano and especially one who rises securely to a high B natural. It is also quite impressive, in its way, to observe how the composer can cover the ground from Op 13 to Op 100 and (in this medium at least) develop so little. There is also the possibility that other listeners, like myself, will find distinct pleasure, lasting exactly one minute, in a merry Caprice played by the Trio, the distinctness being emphasised by its total isolation. For the rest, the combination of insipid music and a piping, uneven voice makes this the hardest record to compliment that has come my way for some years.