Various Composers - Works for Solo Piano by British Women Composers (Hiroaki Takenouchi)

Information

• Dorothy Howell - May (The Cuckoo Calls). Allegro
• Dorothy Howell - Puppydogs' Tales
• Dorothy Howell - Boat Song. Andante
• Madeleine Dring - Fantasy Sonata in one movement
• Doreen Carwithen - Four Preludes (1950)
• Caroline Reinagle - Tarantella in E Minor, Op. 4. Lento - Presto
• Caroline Reinagle - Volunteer Rifle March. Allegro animato
• Caroline Reinagle - Sonata for the Piano Forte in A Major, Op. 6
• Dorothy Howell - Prelude in F Minor. Andante, e cantabile
• Dorothy Howell - Prelude in C Major. Moderato semplice
• Dorothy Howell - Prelude in A-Flat Major. Allegro vivace
• Dorothy Howell - Spindrift (Version for Solo Piano). Allegro vivace
• Dorothy Howell - August (The Harvest Field). Lento e languido

Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano

Date: 2025

Label: ARTALINNA

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This program of British music by women composers offers striking variety and discovery. Reinagle’s Sonata reveals brilliant virtuosity and echoes of Mendelssohn, while Dring’s dramatic Sonata-Fantasy combines Russian expressionism with the grandeur of Bax. Carwithen’s Preludes evoke a more natural, lyrical atmosphere. The highlight is Howell’s Boat Song, a mesmerizing nocturne from around 1920 whose refined poetry and Fauré-like elegance reveal the work of a forgotten genius. Together, these pieces trace a rich and diverse panorama of early to mid-20th-century British music, filled with passion, originality, and emotional depth.

Praised by The Times as “just the sort of champion the newest of new music needs,” pianist Hiroaki Takenouchi is celebrated for his integrity, versatility, and curiosity across a vast repertoire. Equally devoted to classical masters and neglected composers, he champions figures such as Medtner, Sterndale Bennett, and Parry alongside contemporary music. He performs internationally at venues including Wigmore Hall and Tokyo Opera City, and has recorded extensively, featuring world premieres and rare works. A passionate advocate for underrepresented composers, he contributes to BBC Radio 3’s Forgotten Women Composers Project. Takenouchi teaches at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is a Blüthner Artist.