Various Composers - A Cello Galaxy of British Women Composers (Catherine Wilmers; Jill Morton)

Information

1. Amy Elsie Horrocks - Cello Sonata, Op. 7: I. Allegro con brio
2. Amy Elsie Horrocks - Cello Sonata, Op. 7: II. Theme with Variations
3. Amy Elsie Horrocks - Cello Sonata, Op. 7: III. Finale. Allegro vivace
4. Rebecca Clarke - Epilogue
5. Peggy Spencer Palmer - Legend
6. Peggy Spencer Palmer - Sarabande
7. Peggy Spencer Palmer - Bagatelle
8. Sarah Rodgers - Mountain Airs: I. Alba
9. Sarah Rodgers - Mountain Airs: II. Apoteosis
10. Sarah Rodgers - Mountain Airs: III. Crepuscolo
11. Sarah Rodgers - Mountain Airs: IV. Fiesta
12. Joan Trimble - The Coolin'
13. Dora Bright - Das Fischermädchen
14. Susan Spain-Dunk - Winter Song
15. Elizabeth Poston - Mignonne, allons voir si la Rose
16. Elizabeth Poston - L'Amour de moi
17. Elizabeth Poston - 8 Chansons gaillardes, FP 42: No. 8, Serenade (after Poulenc)
18. Ethel Barns - L’Escarpolette
19. Ethel Barns - Idylle
20. Ethel Barns - Capricieuse
21. Alice Verne-Bredt - Verne-Bredt: Wiegenlied

Catherine Wilmers, cello

Jill Morton, piano

Date: 2025

Label: Divine Art

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In A Cello Galaxy of British Women Composers, Catherine Wilmers brings to light an extraordinary collection of works by British women presenting us with twelve premiere recordings. Drawing on diligent research, Wilmers unearths strikingly original compositions presenting us with premiere recordings by Amy Elsie Horrocks, Ethel Barns, Elizabeth Poston, Joan Trimble, Dora Bright, Susan Spain Dunk, and Sarah Rodgers, whose Mountain Airs was written for the cellist. Some of these works lay forgotten in the archives of the Royal Academy of Music, their potential stifled by societal limitations rather than artistic merit. The album is more than a rediscovery—it is a testament to the resilience and artistry of these composers. The satisfyingly detailed liner notes reveal the challenges they faced, often in their own words or through the prejudices of their time.

Catherine Wilmers is a distinguished cellist whose early career was marked by prestigious recital opportunities from the Incorporated Society of Musicians, the Royal Academy of Music, and the Kirckman Concert Society. She gave premiere performances of works by Andrzej Panufnik and John McCabe while still a student. With the support of Mstislav Rostropovich, she became sub-principal cellist of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, earning praise from Sir Georg Solti. Her highlights include recordings for Lord of the Rings and Porgy and Bess, and performances under conductors like Klaus Tennstedt and Bernard Haitink. She has also been featured in international radio programs celebrating women in music.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz