This is an intriguing new release - a collection of short piano works by a highly respected accompanist who, until now, is completely unknown as a composer.
The inlay to the CD gushes about what a generous, loving and inspirational figure he was, and more disturbingly details the tragic circumstances of his untimely death. None of this information really helps. In fact it suggests that the reasons for making this recording too perfectly match the contents, and that is sentimentality.
Most of the music is dewy-eyed pastiche (sometimes consciously, sometimes not), the inspiration for some of the pieces might give you a clue: Variations on, "Twinkle little star", "Frére Jacques", "Like a puppet on a string" and so on. Gustav Mahler used a warped version of "Frére Jacques" to devastating effect in his first symphony in 1889, proving that simple and childlike material needn't lead to simplistic and childish results. This music,however, is fatally twee.
The most interesting piece on the CD is "Mozart Goes To Town", mainly due to the fact that the music is by Mozart. Contrary to the liner notes, it's a medley of Mozart's most well-known hits treated with great skill and imagination, but I couldn't help imagining being at a dinner party and someone saying "Oh, Clifford do that funny thing you do with those Mozart tunes!" and then, once the party piece was over somebody drunkenly says "you really should record and release that, you know!" But honestly, he shouldn't have.
No doubt this serves as a perfect testament to a well-loved and deeply musical individual, but for the wider public there is nothing here that requires urgent attention. Perhaps I'm being a little harsh, since these pieces would probably do very well on classic FM or as the background for SAGA Insurance, but as the first representation of contemporary classical music from this newly minted label this is tepid.
It's a beautifully recorded album, performed with considerable aplomb, and by all accounts at a moment's notice.
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