"The compositions are a good mixture of up-tempo, medium and slower numbers, often with lush orchestral arrangements and illustrative of the variety of styles in which their writer was equally 'at home'...Hope's creative talents display remarkable versatility." Tony Clayden, London Light Music Meetings Group, 2020

The Peter Hope Collection (released in 2007) contains works that were composed in the 1960s and 1970s, some under the pseudonym William Gardner. Most of the tracks were recorded with Orchestra Raphaele, as well as William Gardner and His Orchestra and the 'Art Deco' Orchestra. The CD features the well known 'Ring of Kerry' suite, as well as 'Sweet Betsy' and 'A-roving', arranged by Peter and featuring the Fred Tomlinson Singers.

This CD perfectly complements the 2020 Peter Hope compilation 'Through the Crystal'

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A must-have companion to the music!

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“A fantastic compilation of some of Peter Hope’s most tuneful music… Each piece is well-crafted…every number charms and delights”, John France (Music Web International)

“delightful miniatures…extraordinary versatility…THROUGH THE CRYSTAL is a wonderful testament to the creative musical talents of Peter Hope”, Tony Clayden (London Light Music Meetings group)

Have a listen to the clips below...

Have a listen to the hour long special about Peter - Radio Six International's Lively Lounge

From the remastered ‘Ring of Kerry’ suite (which won an Ivor Novello award) to many library recordings only thus available on vinyl LP, ‘Through the Crystal’ features notable light orchestras and bands including Orchestra Raphaele, Perry / Gardner Orchestra, The William Gardner Orchestra, Anthony Wood and His Orchestra, The Brian Dee Quintet and many more. Tracks range in style from light classical, jazz and big band, folk, pop and easy listening.

“I’m surprised and delighted when I meet folk much younger than me who say how much they enjoyed hearing my music.” Peter Hope, 2020.

‘Through the Crystal’ was released on November 2nd, 2020 – Peter’s 90th Birthday. The double CD comes with original artwork (and booklet) by Peter’s daughter Amy, along with an exclusive interview with Peter.

About Peter...
Born in Stockport, Peter Hope was 90 years old on November 2nd 2020. Over a long career (which continues to this day), he has arranged works for (among many others) Jessye Norman and Jose Carreras and worked for film composers John Williams and James Horner.

For many, Peter’s ‘easy listening’ recordings are synonymous with the BBC Test Card.
“Between 1966 and 1994, Peter's compositions featured in a number of these compilations, and their popularity was such that the BBC often received queries about their identity and availability…this CD release includes 24 of Peter's compositions that could previously have been heard accompanying BBC test cards and Ceefax pages. These delightful miniatures, along with 34 others, can now be enjoyed by a wider audience!” (Colin Petford and Gerard Fletcher, The Test Card Circle).

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This CD is Edward's debut for Mozart Records.

“…intriguing…involving…fascinating resonances abound….all are superbly played by the composer. An important release.” International Piano

The series of '12 Etudes' was composed as a technical showcase in the tradition of composers such as Chopin, Liszt and Debussy. These Etudes are particular explorations of polyrhythmy, with each one demonstrating a subtly different polyrhythmic combination or form.

Edward's website

Edward's 5 part video series on 'Polyrhythmy and the Future of Music' can be seen on our YouTube page and our Facebook page

You can also see Edward's TED talk on polyrhythmy and the Etudes here.

Edward has a new album '31 Pieces' coming soon...

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'Stories', the debut album from pianist and composer, Jennifer Whyte, is a beautiful collection of nine pieces for piano and chamber ensemble recorded at London’s Angel Studios.

An experienced musical director and conductor, Jennifer has composed and arranged music for film, television and theatre. Since gaining two degrees in music, she has worked extensively in theatres in the West End and on tour for Cameron Mackintosh, Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Royal National Theatre. In television and radio, she has worked for the BBC and ITV in Glasgow, Manchester and - and played for the filming of the movie version of Les Misérables.

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https://youtu.be/R4rJVOcMCkw

https://youtu.be/4nDGQGxuBDY

The works of this great British composer cover a wide and varied field, from chamber, choral and orchestral works to music theatre, always with the emphasis on directness of expression within a clear structural framework.

A natural bias towards melody, rhythm and colour has led to a series of lighter orchestral works, most of which have been published by Mozart Edition (Great Britain) Ltd.

Recorded at Angel Studios (London) with The Royal Ballet Orchestra conducted by Gavin Sutherland, Musical Director of the English National Ballet, the CD 'A Wiltshire Elegy’ is David’s latest recording.

Read Ian Lace's review for Music Web International:

David LYON (b. 1938)
Divertimento for Small Orchestra (1963) [11.43]
The Waltzing Marionette (1978) [4.27]
Aria (from Short Suite for Strings) (1972) [2.41]
Gavottina (1983) [3.17]
Polonesque for Strings (1973) [3.20]
A Wiltshire Elegy (2002) [12.13]
Serenata for Strings (1965) [11.02]
Three Countryside Sketches (mid-1970s) [9.41]
Royal Ballet Sinfonia/Gavin Sutherland
rec. Angel Studios, Islington, London. 1-2 May 2014
MOZART RECORDS MR120115 [59.46]

The now defunct Marco Polo label (the deluxe ‘cousin’ of Naxos) issued a number of recordings of British Light Music. One of them was of a collection of attractive pieces by David Lyon. I enthused about it in my review.

This new recording was therefore enthusiastically welcomed. However, I have to say I was not as thrilled this time although this music is undeniably very well crafted with imaginative harmonies and colourful orchestrations. That said, at the end of the listening experience I could recall too few melodies.

David Lyon, born in Walsall in England's West Midlands, studied at the Royal Academy of Music with John Gardner and was influenced by the works of Mahler, Shostakovich, Tippett and Britten. He has written many pieces for the BBC's light music programmes; plus chamber, vocal and orchestral music.

The programme commences with the Divertimento for Small Orchestra. There is an influence of Malcolm Arnold here amongst others. The witty opening ‘March’ is rustic in atmosphere and full of mock pomposity. The lampooning continues with the ‘Jig’ that seems to nod towards the fairground. The following ‘Waltz’ switches the mood to one of dreamy romance and I was reminded of Geoffrey Toye’s The Haunted Ballroom and Armstrong Gibbs’ Dusk. The concluding ‘Serenade’ is jazzy and cheery out-of-doors stuff. It leans towards the fairground once more.
 
The Waltzing Marionette is a charming, lilting waltz that has all the appeal of childhood innocence. Then there are three short string pieces: Aria is a pleading little gem, Gavottina is classical in form and mood, Polonesque is appealing and lively, based on the 3/4 polonaise rhythm and allows the string players to show off their dexterity.

A Wiltshire Elegy was commissioned by the Salisbury Sinfonia to mark their 10th Anniversary. It is based on traditional Wiltshire folk music. Lyon had the notion of linking seven such melodies into an imaginary narrative. This is set in the period of the First World War that swept away so many traditional rural cultures to be replaced all too soon by mass entertainment. The music is evocative and atmospheric, humorous and merry but with a poignant lament for the passing of a way of life.

Serenata for Strings opens with a movement named ‘Interplay’ and the music indicates an interplay between waltz and Latin forms – Vienna vs. Seville. It is an attractive proposition with Lyon playing with complex harmonies and rhythms. The central movement, ‘Romance’ is an almost lugubrious Mahlerian interlude before the ‘Finale’ brings back the sunshine as it trips and skips along, not taking itself at all seriously although a March tries to insist on order.

The concluding Three Countryside Sketches is for me the best thing on this album. The opening ‘Market Day’ is a bright and breezy evocation, you can just imagine all the business, the chatter and the livestock being auctioned. ‘Pastorale’ reminds one of the music of Vaughan Williams, Finzi and Eric Coates. It is a lovely gem redolent of a peaceful countryside but it also seems ethereal and elusive. Finally there is all the excitement and rural community spirit of a ‘Point-to-Point’ meeting.

Ian Lace

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‘Changing Places’ by composer and pianist, Pamela Chilvers.

Pamela was awarded a Scholarship to study Piano with Fanny Waterman in Leeds, and later, at the Royal Academy of Music, she gained her GRSM and LRAM.

'Changing Places’, recorded at Angel Studios (London), is a collection of Pamela’s compositions of solo works, along with duets with notable soloists.

You can find more information about Pamela on her website www.pamelachilvers.co.uk

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