Prolific composers often bank on the sheer volume of their work to guarantee immortality, but even with hundreds of works and numerous collections to his credit, Thomas Pitfield remains one of the most neglected of modern British composers. This is a pity, since much of his music is well-crafted and delightful; and though Pitfield was less than original in his style -- often deriving inspiration from his continental contemporaries -- his work was technically accomplished and more than a little diverting in its verve and color. This 2005 Naxos release is an agreeable introduction to Pitfield's impressive but under-recorded oeuvre, and features examples of some of his most substantial works. The Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor is a light and engaging showpiece, plainly indebted to
Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major in its flavor and presentation, yet gentler in expression, and considerably simpler in its keyboard part. Anthony Gladstone plays the solo with conviction and vitality, and brings a percussive edge to the work that keeps it dry and witty. For the Piano Concerto No. 2 and several solo studies and miniatures, pianist
Peter Donohoe takes over and presents Pitfield's music with similar energy and flair, though with what seems a rounder, warmer sound. The Royal Northern College of Music Orchestra, conducted by
Andrew Penny, gives solid, if understated, support in the two concertos, but because most of this program is devoted to the unaccompanied piano works, the listener's attention is necessarily drawn to
Donohoe's performances, more than the others. In the Studies on an English Dance Tune, the Arietta and Finale, and especially in the Toccata, he demonstrates exuberance and humor and makes these clever pieces sound sophisticated and droll, rather like the best piano miniatures by
Poulenc. But
Donohoe also shows off an unexpected side talent as a percussionist in his crisp reading of the Xylophone Sonata, a tricky piece technically but apparently no hurdle for this versatile musician. Naxos offers its usual fine reproduction and the generous selection of pieces makes this disc a worthwhile collection for anyone curious enough to try the music of a minor but highly productive and ingenious composer.