Скачать или смотреть York Bowen (1884-1961) Ballade in D minor Op. 29 (1910)

Played by Jeremy Watson (piano)
Recorded live

University of Canterbury
9 November 2012


Programme Notes
Edwin Yorke Bowen (1884-1961), known as York Bowen, was a late-Romantic English composer and pianist. As a young man, Bowen appeared destined for an illustrious career, Saint-Saëns calling him "the most remarkable of the young British composers". However, public interest turned away from his music after the First World War and his works have been largely forgotten. This, as others have stated, was at least in part due to Bowen's use of the 'outdated' late-Romantic musical style. Yet some of Bowen's music is fine, and it is a pity that it has vanished from the modern repertoire.

The Ballade in D minor Op. 26 was an early work, written in 1910. It shows the skillfulness of Bowen's writing, although his individuality was not yet fully developed. Nevertheless, the expressive harmony, texture and flair are apparent. As a splendid pianist, some of Bowen's music is very difficult to play and this Ballade is certainly one of his most effective virtuoso pieces.

The Ballade is a poetic form adopted for music by Chopin, and like most, Bowen opens with the principal theme. It is presented as an unaccompanied four-bar motif which is coloured almost impressionistically. In a loose sonata form, it is monothematic as the second subject is derived from the first. Bowen shows his skill in varying this four-bar theme, and his technique of repeating a melody with subtly changed harmony can be seen. From there Bowen harmonizes and transforms it in many different ways, leading to the final climax which concludes triumphantly.