Music for a While (2001)   Officially Launched: November 22nd 2001 ( St Cecilia's Day) Coventry University of Performing Arts. "A surprisingly diverse and approachable disc ... showing impressive gifts of lyricism, imagination and originality ... to be enjoyed and replayed again and again."  Neil Crutchley, music critic, Leicester Mercury   Julian Hellaby has performed widely as solo pianist, concerto soloist, chamber musician and accompanist in the UK and overseas. He has given radio and television broadcasts in eastern Europe and the Middle East and recently released his first solo CD, Then Again. His repertoire covers the standard classics, new music, jazz and popular idioms, as well as improvisation. He combines performance with academic interests and is Senior Lecturer in music at Coventry University and Postgraduate Programme Leader at London College of Music and Media. In 1995, he was awarded the ARAM for his services to the music profession. Two Light Pieces Terence Thompson The Two Light Pieces were composed in 1999. This was a time for reflection as the 20th Century drew to its close, and it was also a time for looking ahead to the New Millennium. These two interesting additions to the clarinettist?s repertoire use the form of the blues, and its dance version, the boogie-woogie. In Reflections in Blue the pace is slow and deliberate, making much use of descending thirds, with rhythmic and melodic figures which are passed between clarinet and piano. In A Bobby Dazzler, excitement at the prospect of the New Millennium is evoked by a fast speed, constant quaver roulades, and the frequent use of a five-note motif ending with an ascending interval of a third which is first announced on the piano. The work is performed by Paul Harris, clarinet and Julian Hellaby, piano Play 1st piece Play 2nd piece Movement for Sonata for violin and piano Andrew Downes Play   The work is performed by Anna Downes, violin and Duncan Honeybourne, piano Four Poems of George Herbert Peter Crump Play 1 Play 2 Play 3 Play 4 George Herbert was a younger contemporary of Shakespeare and one of the greatest of the so-called metaphysical poets. These were poets of the late 16th and 17th Centuries who delighted in complex expression and imagery and whose subject matter was love, religion and philosophy. Herbert's poems are all on religious themes, most of which formed a collection he called "The Temple" written during the last years of his short life when he was Rector of Bemerton in Wiltshire. These settings, dated 1994, are for voice and harpsichord or piano. Two of them, The Elixir ("Teach me my God and King") and Antiphon ("Let All the World") are well-known to many as they are frequently sung as hymns. The performance is by Caroline Milan, soprano and Julian Hellaby, piano Trialogue David Fisher Theme and Ostinato for violin, clarinet and piano The entire work stems from the opening theme and is organised in ternary form with an introduction and coda. An ostinato taking the 7ths and semitones of the theme as the basis of the movement sees the introduction of a percussive rhythm. A coda based on this figure ends with a piano flourish while clarinet and violin play a final mirror inversion. The work is performed by David Hadwen, violin, Paul Harris, clarinet, and Julian Hellaby, piano. Play In the Master's Love Rosemary Duxbury Play "IN THE MASTER'S LOVE", for piano solo, composed in 1996, was premiered by Rosemary Duxbury in Kenilworth, England. It has since been performed around Europe and in America, and Kathy Hinde plays it every Friday at the Pump Rooms, Bath. Patricia Siffert recorded it for "ON WINGS OF LIGHT" (a CD of Rosemary's instrumental music). This recording is by Julian Hellaby. Sonata no.1 for unaccompanied violin Frank Stiles Sonata for Solo Violin, no.1 was written for and dedicated to Clarence Myerscough. It is in three movements, Allegro con spirito, Adagio molto espressivo e mesto, and Allegro con brio, the last movement following without a break. (Clarence Myerscough was to have recorded the piece for this present CD; but sadly died before its realisation, so the recording used here is of an earlier performance.) Play 1st Movement Play 2nd/ 3rd Movement   The Four Seasons David Fisher Play Spring: "Leaves abound, Cuckoos sound" Summer: "Sumer is icumen in" Autumn: "Fall, leaves, fall" Winter: "When icicles hang by the wall" This suite for piano was written for children. Tonally the pieces are only connected in that the pieces descend a semitone each season [F, E, E flat & D] before the final D flat/C of Winter prepares for the return of Spring. This descending four-note figure also forms the basis of the short ground bass in Summer. The work is performed by Julian Hellaby Wings and Metropole Kerry Milan Caroline Milan is the composer's daughter-in-law, and Wings and Metropole are part of a series of songs currently being written for her. Wings was originally scored for flute, harp and guitar accompaniment, while Metropole owes its inspiration to the captivating atmosphere and music of the renowned Brussels hotel of the same name, Julian Hellaby's extempore keyboard spot evoking the occasion splendidly. The moods of the two songs are poles apart; but one thing they have in common - the composer's love of reconciling seemingly opposing ideas at the end of a piece.   Play Wings Play Metropole Nocturne Robert Ramskill Play The "Nocturne" for piano was written in 1987 for a colleague at the time - Eileen Sier - a London based pianist who used to teach for two days a week in Coventry. Since she was a Chopin specialist it seemed appropriate to choose a favourite Chopin form as a starting point for the piece. Eileen performed the resulting work on a number of occasions in recitals. Another Coventry colleague - Julian Hellaby - also took the piece into his repertoire and in July 2000 he included it in his programme for a London recital dedicated to Eileen?s memory. Arioso and Scherzo Kenneth Gange Play Arioso Play Scherzo In 2000 the Arioso and Scherzo from Kenneth Gange's Clarinet Sonata were awarded a 1st prize in the composition competitions at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Llanelli (the composer?s home town). The Sonata has three movements, the first of which is based on a 3rd (with and without a passing note) and a 4th. The Arioso starts with a lyrical melody which acquires a four-semiquaver pattern derived from the opening three notes of the sonata and this, together with syncopated chords, becomes a feature of the 7/8 middle section. The Scherzo inverts the 3rd and makes much use of 6ths, while the second idea extends the 4th to a 7th. The middle section makes reference to some shapes and patterns from the first movement and combines them with the opening patterns of the Scherzo. The work is performed by Paul Harris, clarinet and Julian Hellaby, piano. Berceuse Peter Crump Play This piece dates from 1985.  Melodic lines in the right had are drawn out over a rocking left hand accompaniment in free ostinato; but the flow in both hands is frequently interrupted as if the singer has disturbing thoughts