dda 25099

The Debussy Ensemble

Susan Milan flute Matthew Jones Ieuan Jones harp

Ieuan Jones Matthew Jones Susan Milan

made and printed in the UK divine art recordings group Bax, Debussy, Ravel, Mathias & Dubois Trios for flute, viola and harp

dda 25099 Booklet.indd 1-2 9/5/12 14:37:05 Also from Divine Art: “Out of the Cool” – contemporary music for fl ute and piano Susan Milan & Andrew Ball méti er msv28510 “Music for Flute and Harp” from Bax, Dodgson, Harty, Alwyn, & Maw Emily and Catherine Beynon méti er msvcd92006 William Mathias: The Three String Quartets The Medea Quartet méti er msvcd92005 (1883-1953) William Mathias: Celti c Dances (with Vaughan Williams Symphony 2) Nati onal Youth Orchestra of 1 Elegiac Trio Moderate tempo, smooth and fl owing 9.41 /Owain (1862-1918) diversions ddv24135 Sonate en Trio 17.42 William Matt hias: Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 (with music by John Pickard) Raymond Clarke 2 I Pastorale 6.51 diversions ddv24111 3 II Interlude 5.53 William Matt hias: Santa Fe Suite Rachel Dent 4 III Final 4.58 diversions ddv24138

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) The divine art family of labels Sonatine en Trio arranged by Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961) 12.35 5 I Modéré 4.51

6 II Mouvement de Menuet 2.53 7 III Animé 4.51

William Mathias (1934-1992) A full list of over 300 ti tles, with full track details, reviews, arti st profi les and audio samples, is on our Zodiac Trio, Op. 70 18.00 website. Available at any good record store or direct from our secure web stores. 8 Moderato – I. Pisces allegro vivo 5.01 Divine Art Ltd., 3 Cypress Close, Doddington, Cambridgeshire PE15 0LE, UK 9 Moderato – II. Aries andante 6.43 Tel: +44 (0)1609 882062 email: [email protected] 10 Moderato – III. Taurus allegro alla danza 6.16 www.divine-art.co.uk Théodore Dubois (1837-1924) Diversions LLC, 62 Country Club Road, Brandon, VT 05733, USA 11 Terzettino Moderato 5.20 Tel: +1 802 465 4071 email: [email protected] www.divineartrecords.com Total CD duration 63.20 Printed catalogue sent on request Most ti tles also available in digital download through iTunes, Classics Online and at htt p://divineartdigital.downloadcentric.net

WARNING: Copyright subsists in all recordings issued under this label. Any unauthorised broadcasti ng, public performance, copying or re-recording thereof in any manner whatsoever will consti tute an infringement of such copyright. In the United Kingdom, licences for the use of recordings for public performance may be obtained from Phonographic Performance Ltd, 1, Upper James Street, W1R 3HG.

2 11

dda 25099 Booklet.indd 3-4 9/5/12 14:37:09

performed in the Purcell Room, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Blackheath Halls, the Arnold Bax (1883 – 1953) CBSO Centre, Birmingham, the new Wales Millennium Centre and venues in France and Italy, as well as live on BBC Radio 3. He also performs in UK Elegiac Trio and throughout the world as a soloist and chamber musician. He is a member Moderate tempo: smooth and flowing of Ensemble MidtVest, (an innovative ten-piece chamber ensemble based in ), the Instrumental Quintet of London and the Debussy Ensemble. Bax was profoundly disturbed by the war years 1914-1918 and by events in Ireland, and during this period he wrote a number of reflective works, including the atmospheric Ieuan Jones’ mission has taken him around the world, transfixing audiences with Elegiac Trio, with its haunting melodies and dance themes, reminiscent of Irish folk his richly characterful playing; in Spain they dubbed him “Esplendoroso Jones.” music. The work is in one continuous movement and it is interesting to note that it was premiered in 1917, shortly after the appearance of the Sonata by Debussy for the same His flair is founded upon a solid basis of technique, acquired over years of study combination. from the age of six to his studies at the where he is now professor. Ieuan has performed in more than twenty-five countries, given concerto Arnold Bax was born in London into a wealthy middle class family of Dutch descent. He appearance with some of the world’s leading orchestras and has many recordings received his education at home and showed exceptional talents in music and literature. to his credit. He has received standing ovations from the Concertgebouw to The family lived in Hampstead and he received formal musical training from Cecil the Teatro Colon in Argentina, the Port Fairy, Barossa and Melbourne festivals Sharp and others at the Hampstead Conservatory followed by the from the age of 16. Here he studied composition with Frederick Corder, the piano in Australia to the Cultural Centre in Manila, City Hall in Hong Kong and many with Tobias Matthay and the clarinet with Egerton. On leaving the Academy, he became more. In the UK, Ieuan appears at all of the major concert hall venues with one of the most prominent composers in , his symphonies and tone poems varied programmes that include works rarely played on the harp and often with receiving performances by major orchestras and conductors. ensembles involving flute and strings. He is a member of the Debussy Ensemble and the Instrumental Quintet of London. Bax made Ireland his second home, returning annually to a small village in Donegal, where he found inspiration for his compositions, both musical and literary. As a Produced and engineered by Gary Cole writer he used the Irish pseudonym Dermot O’Byrne and published books and Recorded on 12/13 December 2010 at Oak Combe, Marley Common, Haselmere, UK poems, the latter strongly influenced by the Irish poet, William Butler Yeats. This Original Sound Recording made by Susan Milan and issued under licence. affinity with poetry is apparent in his musical compositions, which are complex and ℗ 2012 Susan Milan © 2012 Divine Art Limited colourful, often incorporating Irish folk melodies, as well as reflecting his interest Design: Stephen Sutton Photo of ensemble by Katie Vandyke in the Romantic and Impressionist genres. After the Second World War, Bax’s Butterfly images: Luberron Swallowtail by Dan Evans http://www.danevansphotography.co.uk Zodiac Trio published by OUP; Elegiac Trio by Chester Music; all other works Public Domain

10 3

dda 25099 Booklet.indd 5-6 9/5/12 14:37:09 compositions were widely performed and applauded, but there was subsequently Susan Milan a decline in performances until a recent resurgence of interest, which has resulted Former Principal Flute of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Milan in numerous recordings of his symphonies and chamber music. His musical output continues to travel, performing and giving master classes in USA, East Asia and was considerable and it is unthinkable that even today, his music is not more widely Europe. She can be heard regularly on BBC radio and has recorded for Chandos, appreciated. Upbeat, Da Capo, Omega, Denon, Cala and Metier labels. She has researched The Elegiac Trio is in one continuous movement, in a vividly Impressionist style. Bax and published 19th century repertoire for Boosey & Hawkes, Wilhelm Popp for refers to Irish folk melodies and evokes colourful pastoral scenes, the rippling waves Hunt Edition, written study books and cadenzas, and is presently restoring and and majestic themes of the harp complemented by the warm interaction of the flute processing for CD her collection of historic 78 recordings of flautists 1910-1945. and viola voices. Numerous composers have written for her and she is committed to commissioning and performing new works. She is a Professor and Fellow of the Royal College of Music. Her recital CD of contemporary British flute music with the pianist Andrew Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Ball was released in 2008 on the Metier label. She performs with three chamber ensembles: the Instrumental Quintet of London, Debussy Ensemble and Milan Sonate en Trio Trio. Susan is Director and founder of the British Isles Music Festival, where, Pastoral – Interlude (tempo di minuetto) – Finale (allegro) every summer, outstanding young musicians explore and perform chamber music under the direction of established performers and teachers. During the last three years of his life, Debussy set himself the task of writing six sonatas for various instruments or combinations. He completed three, the cello sonata, the Matthew Jones is an accomplished violist, violinist and composer. He studied sonate for flute, viola and harp and the violin sonata, in that order. The Sonate en Trio Mathematics at the Universities of Warwick and Bologna, Italy, graduating with combines three instruments whose individual timbres are each slightly mysterious and exotic. It is interesting to note that Debussy originally scored this for flute, oboe and one of the highest first class marks of his year, before being awarded a Senior harp. By replacing the oboe with viola we not only gain its warm tone and register, Exhibition to study at the Royal College of Music. As a qualified teacher of the but also a wide choice of effects unique to the string family, which combined with the Alexander Technique and Kundalini Yoga, Matthew gives courses abroad and rich frequencies of the flute and the ambiance of the harp makes this a tonally unique at the Royal College of Music, Trinity College of Music and Berkley School experience. The viola part displays a long list of instructions such as: sur le touché, sul of Music in Boston. His duo with the pianist Michael Hampton has emerged ponticello, otez la sourd, sur le chevalet, du talon and Debussy uses forte pizzicato in as one of the most successful viola duos in the world and he has recently the finale to add vitality, excitement and strength.

4 9

dda 25099 Booklet.indd 7-8 9/5/12 14:37:09 much-respected composer of stage works and vocal music, as well as instrumental The opening movement, Pastorale, sounds improvisational; a melancholy, emotive chamber music. As a boy he studied with Fanart in Rheims and later at the Paris and sometimes passionate conversation between the instruments, leading to a joyful Conservatoire with Ambrose Thomas. Vif in the development section reminiscent of La Mer in its flowing rivulets of sound. The haunting primary theme is reflected in the coda. He won the Prix de Rome in 1861. In 1871, after numerous posts as choirmaster and organist, he became a professor of the Paris Conservatoire, where he was appointed The second movement, Interlude, is a gracious minuet essentially divided into three Director in 1896. The Terzettino, written in 1904, has an interesting history. As director sections rather like sonata form. The opening with its beautiful four bar theme takes of the Paris Conservatoire and professor of harmony and composition, he would us on such a bewitching journey and leading to an exuberant animato. The movement have been fortunate to encounter two outstanding young instrumentalists, the harpist closes with a subdued rendering of the opening theme. In the finale, Debussy takes Henrietta Renie, who studied with Hasslmans and flautist Philippe Gaubert who was a advantage of all the harmonic richness of this combination of instruments and uses pupil of Taffanel. We can assume that the violist Van Waefelghem was also a student the viola pizzicato and strong harp writing to create the foundation for the risoluto of the conservatory. demanded of this movement. His powerful scoring makes demands on both players and instruments and creates an almost orchestral texture, demonstrating his understanding Henrietta Renie had a diverse career as a virtuoso harpist, teacher, composer and of the instruments capabilities. innovator of harp design. In 1914 she launched an international competition, the “Concours Renie”, which over the years had notable musicians on the jury, including Salzedo, Ravel, Grandjany and Gabriel Pierné. She won a Prix du Disque for her (1875-1937) recording of Danses des Lutins in 1926 and was later awarded the Legion of Honor. She pioneered the double action harp and inspired the creation of the chromatic harp. Sonatine en Trio Modéré – Mouvement de menuet – Animé Philippe Gaubert was one of the most acclaimed flautists of his generation. Sadly he left the life of a performing flautist to pursue a highly successful career in conducting. Ravel’s Sonatine began life in 1903 as a single movement written as a test piece for He left a legacy of recordings and many compositions for flute. pianists at the Paris Conservatoire. The second and third movements were completed later and it was published in 1905. The French-born American Harpist, Carlos Salzedo, whose time at the Paris Conservatoire overlapped with Ravel’s, arranged the Sonatine for flute, harp and cello (or viola) to extend the repertoire for this combination of instruments, established in 1915 by the Sonate of Debussy. By all accounts, Salzedo had Ravel’s approval.

8 5

dda 25099 Booklet.indd 9-10 9/5/12 14:37:09

Maurice Ravel was born in Ciboure in the Basque region of France. He studied piano Academy of Music in London, where he studied with . In his youth he with Beriot and composition with Fauré and Gédalge at the Paris Conservatoire. He received “The International Arnold Bax” prize for composition. was influenced by a long list of prominent composers such as Mozart, Liszt, Johann He was described as “one of the most versatile musical minds of his generation”. A Strauss, Saint-Saëns, Chabrier, Borodin, Schoenberg, and Stravinsky. Above all he lyricist at heart, he rejected serial music early in his career. Several of his works include was influenced by Claude Debussy, but by 1895 he had developed his own personal harp, which is natural for one with a strong Welsh and Celtic background. He became style of composition, which met with considerable disapproval from the conventional a Professor at and remained proudly Welsh. academic circles in Paris of the time. It is astonishing to note that he competed unsuccessfully for the Prix de Rome in 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1905. The spirit of the dance energizes much of his music. Mathias was particularly prolific with his compositions for the flute and harp. As well as the Elegiac Trio, he wrote the Ravel composed works for orchestra, ballet, voice, chamber groups and a large amount Concerto for Flute and Strings, Concerto for Flute, Harp and Strings, Concerto for Harp, of piano repertoire. Flautists will immediately think of Daphnis et Chloë with its famous Sonatina and Sonata, Op 98, for Flute and Piano, Concerto for Harp, Improvisations for flute solo and Bolero which demands a controlled pianissimo in the opening flute solo. Harp Op.10, Sonata for Harp Op.66, and the Santa Fe Suite for harp. The Sonatine en Trio is a beautiful transcription of the piano work and a welcome In the Zodiac trio, Mathias uses what were at the time fairly modern techniques on all addition to the chamber repertoire. three instruments to create some interesting “cosmic” effects. Each star sign movement is preceded by a moderato incorporating flutter tonguing on the flute, tremolo and William Mathias (1934-1992) harmonics on the viola and string sliding using a metal object plus soundboard tapping on the harp, to represent the journey to and from each star sign. Zodiac Trio, op.70 moderato – PISCES allegro vivo – moderato – ARIES andante – moderato – TAURUS allegro alla danza, sempre ritmico Théodore Dubois (1837-1924)

The Zodiac Trio was written in 1975 for the Robles Trio and premiered in 1976. Terzettino Moderato It consists of three short astrological character studies depicting the Piscean flautist Christopher Hyde Smith, the Arien viola player Frederick Riddle and the Tauran Dedication: à Henrietta Renié, M.M.Ph.Gaubert et Van Waefelghem harpist Marisa Robles. Each movement is intended to express the characters of both players and birth signs. Today Théodore Dubois is mainly remembered for his organ music – 88 works in all – and his theoretical works on harmony and counterpoint, but in his time, he was a William Mathias was born in Whitland, South Wales. He began composing when a small boy and later studied at the University College of Wales and the Royal

6 7

dda 25099 Booklet.indd 11-12 9/5/12 14:37:10 dda25099 Inner Tray.indd 1

divine art dda25099 14/2/12 14:08:58 dda25099

LC 12671 dda25099 Trios for flute, viola and harp Arnold Bax (1883-1953) 9.41 Susan Milan 1 Elegiac Trio Moderate tempo, smooth and flowing TERZETTI: Trios for flute, viola and harp flute Matthew Jones Claude Debussy (1862-1918) 17.42 viola THE DEBUSSY ENSEMBLE Sonate en Trio Ieuan Jones 2 I Pastorale [6.51] harp 3 II Interlude [5.53] 4 III Final [4.58] Total CD duration 63.20 Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) 12.35 Sonatine en Trio arranged by Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961) 5 I Modéré [4.51] 6 II Mouvement de Menuet [2.53] 7 III Animé [4.51]

William Mathias (1934-1992) 18.00

THE DEBUSSY ENSEMBLE Zodiac Trio, Op. 70 8 Moderato - I. Pisces allegro vivo [5.01] 9 Moderato - II. Aries andante [6.43] ℗ 2012 Susan Milan ©2012 Divine Art Ltd. TERZETTI: Trios for flute, viola and harp 10 Moderato - III. Taurus allegro alla danza, sempre ritmico [6.16] Divine Art Record Company Doddington, UK Théodore Dubois (1837-1924) 5.20 Brandon, VT, USA www.divineartrecords.com 11 Terzettino Moderato dda25099

dda25099 Outer Tray.indd 1 2/4/12 15:52:23