Gerard Schurmann’s 1982-83 Duo for violin and piano is written
in five movements and was his first commission after he’d moved
to America. Opening with a powerful Intrada it embraces
a vital, charged yet frolicsome Ditirambo, one that
slows for a contrasting B section, and a tranquil and then terse
drama in the central Notturno. There are scurrying,
folk-like exchanges between the instruments in the Burlesca,
which ends with a satisfying ‘clunk’. But the work itself ends
with an introspective Largo, full of feeling. Finely
distributed for the instruments, this cohesive and wide ranging
work should appeal to enterprising duos who want music of colour,
timbre, strong themes and conviction.
Leotaurus for piano was written about a decade earlier
and taken from a theme from the composer’s Piano Concerto, which
was written shortly before. Cleverly, the title encodes the
star signs of Tamás Vásáry, for whom the piece was written,
and his wife Ildiko; the Lion and the Bull. Schurmann imagines
the two animals in the ring, enacting variations according to
their different natures. Thus, in a quarter of an hour this
theme and variations races through some ingenious patterns and
incidents with plenty of colour, and plenty of aural excitement.
Some driving ostinati excite, so too the playfully terse moments
embedded in them; the final allegro is the embodiment of pulsing
power. In John Ogdon’s note for this piece, reprinted here,
he calls it ‘bull-like’.
Autumn Leaves for violin and piano is suitably reflective,
composed in 2007 and the most recently written of the quartet
of compositions. There’s sweet candour in the Arietta,
a strikingly beautiful movement, and a lied-like richness to
the B section of the Allegro third movement. This is
a richly satisfying work, and it would grace any recital. Contrasts
for solo piano was commissioned by Ogdon and first performed
by him in 1973. The four movements are interlinked and explore
weather phenomena in a clever, exciting way. There’s plenty
of gauze, dazzle and more especially swirl and thunder.
Outstanding performances are allied to finely judged recordings,
and a predictably first class booklet note. The results are
hugely satisfying.
Jonathan Woolf
Alyssa Park (violin)