This had the look of one of those albums that’s either a joy or really difficult … and happily it’s the former, one of the most accessible modern albums I’ve had.
Straightforward, enjoyable music that’s meant to entertain but sacrificing nothing in the name of popularity.
Carmichael is an Australian pianist and composer, who has worked mainly in the UK. A lot of his composition involves the piano and this release includes his second piano concerto.
Piano Concerto No2 opens (St Paul’s Sinfonia) and is immediately appealing with its warm, Romantic sound; the PR notes say he has an “accessible post-Romantic style” and in his sleeve notes he confesses to being a Romantic and spent some years as music director of a Spanish/Latin American dance company.
It’s fun music and probably fun to play – although it’s proper complex classical music as well, so no muttering about dumbing down for mass appeal.
The album boasts a diversity of sound, with duos, solos, and the piano concerto. There is also a divertimento for flute, oboe, clarinet and piano.
“Contrasts” section’s “Zephyr” and “Remembering” are Flamenco-tinged viola, with “Contrasts Flamenco” especially so.
“Short Cuts” is a fun section that sounds like the music for a posh kids’ show: it was written for a concert to raise money for the music department of the Camden School for Girls in London for the purchase of new instruments and performed by the teachers of the department, and consists of eight short movements.
Even more jolly is “On The Green”, a musical description of a fine summer’s day on an unnamed green (premiered at St Martin’s in the Fields), with oboe, clarinet and bassoon.
Very pleasant, both accessible and sophisticated.
This is out on Divine Art, DDX 21103.
JMC
