Arnold Bax - Piano Works Vol. 4 Music for 2 Pianos (Naxos Audio CD)

Although best known for his symphonic poems and symphonies, Bax also wrote prolifically for the piano, his instrument from the first. The two-piano music heard on this recording was written mostly in the late 1920s for the husband and wife piano duet team of Ethel Bartlett and Rae Robertson. It encompasses captivating miniatures such as The Poisoned Fountain, whose repeated piano figuration is evocative of flowing water, the impressionistic Moy Mell (An Irish Tone-Poem) and Hardanger, which emulates the style of Grieg’s folk-style piano music. The large-scale Sonata for Two Pianos includes a slow movement which is formally similar to some of the orchestral tone poems, and evokes an ancient Celtic world in a striking parallel with Bax’s orchestral The Garden of Fand.

Arnold Bax

Festival Overture (arr. for 2 pianos)

Wass, Ashley, piano
Roscoe, Martin, piano


Festival Overture (arr. for 2 pianos) 00:13:51
The Poisoned Fountain

Wass, Ashley, piano
Roscoe, Martin, piano


The Poisoned Fountain 00:04:12
Moy Mell, "The Pleasant Plain, an Irish Tone Poem"

Wass, Ashley, piano
Roscoe, Martin, piano


Moy Mell, "The Pleasant Plain, an Irish Tone Poem" 00:09:02
Sonata for 2 Pianos

Wass, Ashley, piano
Roscoe, Martin, piano


I. Molto moderato (quasi andante) - Allegretto scherzando (ma non troppo presto) 00:08:57
II. Lento espressivo 00:07:59
III. Vivace e feroce (ma non troppo presto) 00:04:48
The Devil that Tempted St Anthony

Wass, Ashley, piano
Roscoe, Martin, piano


The Devil that Tempted St Anthony 00:06:31
Red Autumn

Wass, Ashley, piano
Roscoe, Martin, piano


Red Autumn 00:05:33
Hardanger

Wass, Ashley, piano
Roscoe, Martin, piano


Hardanger 00:03:30



Total Playing Time: 01:04:23