John Turner (recorder)
The Manchester Chamber Ensemble
rec. St. Thomas’s Church, Stockport. 28-30 May 2014
PRIMA FACIE PFCD038 [75:00]

"...Called ‘The Proud Recorder’, Prima Facie’s second collection is designed to demonstrate that composers can write for the instrument in a serious context, exploiting its capacity for depth and emotion, especially when accompanied by strings. To illustrate this point, the disc contains no fewer than three substantial quintets, each revealing very different responses to the individual character of the recorder.

The programme begins impressively with the Quintet by Patric Standford. This, the composer’s last completed work, makes a fine coda to his creative output. Weightiest of the four movements, the tripartite opening piece covers a lot of terrain in less than six minutes and from the slow and richly ornamented framing material to the quirky central jig, the ideas are of the highest calibre. Following an introspective Arietta, the joyful rondo-finale is infused with pealing bells and birdsong effects. This is a polished and skilful score which could win the recorder many new converts."