The Sons of the Morning

Ivor Gurney's The Five Preludes for piano date from the second half of 1919 written during a period of remarkable and unexpected creativity from the 29 year old composer and published war poet, with over 40 songs composed and 80 poems written. Gurney was taught by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1919 at the RCM. In 1922 ill health got the better of Gurney and he was sent to the City of London Mental Hospital where he remained until his death in 1937.

Ralph Vaughan Williams was not renowned for his piano playing and as such wrote few works for the piano. The Lake in the Mountains was his last piano work and was composed for Phyllis Sellick in 1947. This piano version of Job A Masque for Dancing was arranged for piano by Vally Lasker, made in the summer of 1930 to support the dancers' rehearsals for a production. The piano arrangement was considered significant enough to be published by Oxford University Press in 1931.

Award winning piano accompanist, Iain Burnside makes his first full solo recording with this disc of rare repertoire.