Ulysses Arts releases Paul Henley's Piano Works album on 22 September 2023, performed by Duncan Honeybourne, with several works pre-released digitally on Apple Music during the summer.
Download on iTunes or stream on Apple Music - click above
Duncan Honeybourne
Duncan Honeybourne comments: 'Paul Henley told me that he feels the piano is more 'orchestral' than any other solo instrument. His intention is to highlight its “very diverse expressive potential, ranging from beautiful lyricism to considerable rhythmic vitality”. As Henley explains: “although it has considerable lyrical potential, the piano is actually a percussive instrument”. The latter is particularly significant to him.'
All three sonatas are shot through with an attractive blend of the percussive and the lyrical: No. 3 is the most extended and ambitious scale, and with a correspondingly extended expressive range. The Suite was composed in 2002 to celebrate the eighth birthday of the composer’s son; its five movements convey an engaging directness and simplicity in character and design. Framed by two cheerful Fanfares, there is a bouncy Scherzo, a warm hearted Nocturne and a dramatic Chorale. As with all Henley’s music, it is effective but never loaded with complexity for its own sake. Sometimes touching, sometimes punchy, and often surprising, it is constructed skilfully with a distinctive ear for rhythmic zest and harmonic colour, allied to a natural gift for melodic charm.
All three sonatas are shot through with an attractive blend of the percussive and the lyrical: No. 3 is the most extended and ambitious scale, and with a correspondingly extended expressive range. The Suite was composed in 2002 to celebrate the eighth birthday of the composer’s son; its five movements convey an engaging directness and simplicity in character and design. Framed by two cheerful Fanfares, there is a bouncy Scherzo, a warm hearted Nocturne and a dramatic Chorale. As with all Henley’s music, it is effective but never loaded with complexity for its own sake. Sometimes touching, sometimes punchy, and often surprising, it is constructed skilfully with a distinctive ear for rhythmic zest and harmonic colour, allied to a natural gift for melodic charm.
ALBUM DETAILS
Piano Sonata No. 1 (2005): 13’02
i. Moderato ma maestoso - Allegro molto: 5’00
ii. Adagio: 4’42
iii. Allegro moderato :3’20
Sonata No. 2 (2016): 7’17
Allegro vigoroso - Meno mosso - Allegro moderato - Come prima -
Maestoso - Moderato calmo - Allegro vigoroso
Sonata No. 3 (2020): 20’42
i. ‘Processional’ - Solenne: 4’54
ii. ‘Moto perpetuo’ – Allegro molto e sempre tempo giusto: 2'05
iii. ‘Departure’ – Adagio: 6’10
iv. ‘Danza’ – Allegretto deciso: 7’33
Five Epigrams for Piano (2019): 9’23
i. Molto moderato
ii. Allegretto
iii. Andantino
iv. Allegro
v. Molto moderato
Suite for Piano (2002): 5’27
Adagietto (2020): 3’12
Piano Sonata No. 1 (2005): 13’02
i. Moderato ma maestoso - Allegro molto: 5’00
ii. Adagio: 4’42
iii. Allegro moderato :3’20
Sonata No. 2 (2016): 7’17
Allegro vigoroso - Meno mosso - Allegro moderato - Come prima -
Maestoso - Moderato calmo - Allegro vigoroso
Sonata No. 3 (2020): 20’42
i. ‘Processional’ - Solenne: 4’54
ii. ‘Moto perpetuo’ – Allegro molto e sempre tempo giusto: 2'05
iii. ‘Departure’ – Adagio: 6’10
iv. ‘Danza’ – Allegretto deciso: 7’33
Five Epigrams for Piano (2019): 9’23
i. Molto moderato
ii. Allegretto
iii. Andantino
iv. Allegro
v. Molto moderato
Suite for Piano (2002): 5’27
Adagietto (2020): 3’12
Epigram No. 1 in Apple Music playlists: New in Classical and Pure Piano:
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