York Bowen is one of those twentieth century composers whose music fell by the wayside because it seemed old-fashioned and out of step with contemporary works. The piano works on this disc -- the Sonata No. 6, the Preludes, Op. 102, and the Rêverie -- are rich, dramatic, virtuosic, generally tonal works that are descended from the works of such composers as
Debussy,
Rachmaninov, and Scriabin. Hardly the type of music that was considered serious in 1961, the year of the Sonata's composition. However, there is worth to his music. Kaikhorsu Sorabji praised the Preludes in particular. In the pieces here, harmony is the medium with which
Bowen paints his canvas. The harmony determines the mood and character of every phrase, as much as or more than any melodic or rhythmic figure being used, and the moods range from fiery passion to dreamy peacefulness. The Sonata consists of two passionate, challenging outer movements, the first stern and the last more cheerful, with a calm central movement. The range of emotions and techniques in the Preludes is truly inventive. There are virtuosic showpieces, moody character pieces, and exercises in chords, scales, and arpeggios.
Joop Celis is more than up to the technical challenges and tends to make the most of the intense sentiments. In some of the more nocturnal and pastoral Preludes, a little smoother or softer touch would have enhanced the character even more. Regardless,
Celis certainly has a sympathy for
Bowen's work, making it blossom under his fingers.