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FIELD, John. Nocturnes 1 - 16. Joanna Leach (square piano) Athene ATH CD1 [75' 39"].

 


Crotchet




Jo Leach uses three period pianos in this collection of John Field's nocturnes.

The Irish composer John Field (1782 - 1837) 'invented' the nocturne and Chopin, who enjoyed playing Field's nocturnes, made Nocturne a famous word.

I cannot claim that the Field nocturnes are great music ... nor can I say that of his piano concertos either. It is pleasant enough music but, like the piano music of Schubert, it is lacking in contrast and tension and is far too derivative and repetitive.

However, the Field nocturnes are important, especially for we music teachers. The charming No 4 in A is on the current syllabus for the Associated Board's Grade 8. The other thing to say is that although they often sound simple to play they can be difficult. Jo Leach succeeds in the interpretative and continuity problems they present and often her playing is simply lovely as in the gorgeous Nocturne No 5 in B flat of 1817.

My problem is that they all sound the same ... rhythmically at least. Perhaps this is my fault for listening to them all at one hearing. The Nocturne No 14 in C is very long, about 10½ minutes in length.

The pianos she uses are ideally suited to the music apart from the need to sustain notes and, despite what one reviewer wrote in The Gramophone, the square piano does not have pedals - just one sustaining pedal! This proves my point that reviewers should be knowledgeable and be able to read music and follow a score to make an analysis ... otherwise all he can do is merely give an impression, and that is of little use to anyone.

Jo Leach plays these nocturnes with a lot of thought, detail and love. There is nothing cold or clinical about her playing.

Reviewer

David Wright

 

 

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Reviewer

David Wright

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