SHINE AND SHADE

PIERS ADAMS AND JULIAN RHODES

This intriguing album is something of a ‘hidden secret’, exploring a corner of the recorder’s repertoire which has become unjustly neglected.  The middle years of the 20th century saw a revival of interest in the instrument spearheaded by Carl Dolmetsch, who commissioned over 50 new works by leading British composers, mostly in a pleasingly tonal, neo-romantic style, a pre-cursor to the recorder’s ‘avant garde’ period from the 1960s onwards.   This recording brings together the highlights of this important area of the recorder’s heritage, together with one or two more recent works in similar style – deeply evocative, playful, expressive and often thrilling music, which will surprise even the most hardened critic of the recorder!

'An appealing disc full of vigorous character and ideas, not to say stunning virtuosity.'    CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE (Recording of the Month, December 1999)

“Piers Adams demonstrates superbly just how varied composers’ responses have been to the unusual combination and how often they have written beautiful movements that stand comparison with any modern wind and piano sonatas. Adams and Rhodes play with superb rapport and find all kinds of different expressive characters for the
very different pieces. This CD is a delight.”  CLASSIC CD MAGAZINE 

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