COMPOSERS: Alwyn
LABELS: Dutton
ALBUM TITLE: Alwyn
WORKS: Concerto for flute & eight wind instruments; Naiades; Divertimento for Solo Flute; Trio for flute, cello & piano; Flute Sonata; French Suite
PERFORMER: Philippa Davies (flute); Nash Ensemble
CATALOGUE NO: CDLX 7176
Fine as William Alwyn’s symphonies
are – especially the one-movement
Fifth – the musical thought often
seems to me richer and more personal
when he composes on a smaller,
more intimate scale. The wit and
atmospheric magic of the best film
scores is here, but in condensed
form, and with a delicate, sometimes
slightly naughty Gallic sensitivity
that gently recalls Poulenc. The
Concerto for Flute and Eight Wind
Instruments is typical, though
something of the seriousness of the
symphonist emerges very effectively
in the finale’s climactic fugal
episode – extraordinary, too, how
much Alwyn makes of this modest
instrumental line-up.
Perhaps the most impressive
achievement is the Divertimento for
Solo Flute: light as thistledown, yet
endlessly inventive – hard to believe
an unaccompanied flute can hold
the attention for nearly quarter of
an hour. Of course the quality of
the performances is an important
factor too. The Nash musicians never
sound less than completely absorbed
and technically on top of every
detail. Flautist Philippa Davies is a
delight throughout, and yet there’s
nothing egoistic about her playing:
even in the Concerto she feels more
like the inspired leader of a chamber
ensemble than an attention seeking
‘star’. These are lovely recordings,
in which each contrasted ensemble
is beautifully balanced.
Stephen Johnson