FRIBBINS The Moving Finger Writes
Premiere performances of a modern melodic master
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Peter Fribbins
Genre:
Orchestral
Label: Guild
Magazine Review Date: AW/2012
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 64
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: GMCD7381
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(A) Haydn Prelude |
Peter Fribbins, Composer
Anthony Hewitt, Musician, Piano Peter Fribbins, Composer |
String Quartet No. 2, 'After Cromer' |
Peter Fribbins, Composer
Chilingirian Quartet Peter Fribbins, Composer |
Concerto for Piano |
Peter Fribbins, Composer
Diana Brekalo, Musician, Piano Peter Fribbins, Composer Robertas Servenikas, Conductor Royal Philharmonic Orchestra |
Fantasias for Viola and Piano |
Peter Fribbins, Composer
Anthony Hewitt, Musician, Piano Peter Fribbins, Composer Sarah-Jane Bradley, Musician, Viola |
Author: Edward Greenfield
Most important is the Piano Concerto, written for the Croatian soloist, Diana Brekalo. It was recorded live at its first performance in 2011 at Cadogan Hall in London, an account with next to no interruptions from the audience until the applause at the end. The opening Adagio, made ominous with loud timpani strokes, leads to an Allegro in which a viola melody is constantly varied. It matters little that one hardly registers that motif, for the tautness of structure is perfectly evident. The slow movement is more straightforwardly melodic, with an oboe melody taken up by the piano. In the finale, after a rushing first theme, the oboe introduces a second subject, leading to a movement with plentiful timpani strokes and a slow central section before a final fugato and an exciting coda. Splendid performances from Brekalo and the RPO under the Croatian conductor Robertas Šervenikas.
The title, After Cromer, of the Second String Quartet does not refer to the place but to the hymn tune, which forms the basis of the powerful first movement: the Chilingirian Quartet, for whom it was written, are the persuasive advocates. After a brilliant scherzo, the slow movement is a reworking of one of Fribbins’s organ pieces with a pizzicato central section. The finale also brings some pizzicato writing with double-stopping reminiscent of Bartók, leading to an energetic conclusion.
A Haydn Prelude was written as a tribute to John McCabe on his 70th birthday, reflecting his monumental recording of the complete Haydn piano sonatas. The Two Fantasias for viola and piano feature deep meditations for the viola, the first based on a Welsh folk tune, the second on a Hungarian melody, with the piano weaving an often elaborate accompaniment. Superb performances from the dedicated Sarah-Jane Bradley and Anthony Hewitt, who also plays the solo piano piece. Altogether an illuminating portrait of a composer who deserves to be even better known.
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