"Three Lyric Pieces" Eric Coates
The most surprising thing about these three gorgeous salon pieces, is that as a complete set they seem not to have ever been recorded. While the last movement, “Valse” appears at least once on an album of collected piano music, the other two pieces, “A Fragment” and “Nocturne” seem to have been largely forgotten since their publication in 1930.
Conductor, John Wilson, a champion of Coates’ music himself, gifted a copy of the “Three Lyric Pieces” to pianist, Ben Dawson years ago, commenting at the time that he didn’t know of anyone else who had them, and that perhaps Ben would consider recording them one day, and so he did, in a session with us days before Christmas 2021 at the CBSO Centre in Birmingham, on their lovely Steinway D grand piano.
The pieces bear a simple dedication “To Joan”, which is very likely Coates’ sister-in-law, Elfrida Joan Freeman. His wife Phylliss and Joan commented later in life that he was a fairly private man, and preferred quiet nights in with friends to the busy London social scene. We’d love to imagine that perhaps these sumptuous “Three Lyric Pieces” with Eric Coates at the piano featured in one or more of these evenings.
- A Fragment 2:00
- Nocturne 3:58
- Valse 1:47
Ben Dawson – Artists Website
Born in London, Ben Dawson has earned a reputation both in the UK & internationally as a pianist & composer at home in the widest range of musical styles and genres: on the concert stage as a soloist, chamber musician & orchestral player; and as a session musician, recording for film, TV, video game, radio & library music.
As a soloist, Ben has performed and broadcast concertos with some of the world’s most renowned orchestras; including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony, Lahti Symphony, RTE National Symphony & Concert Orchestras and the Ulster Orchestra. Ben has also recorded as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic & BBC Concert Orchestras. Ben’s enthusiasm for exploring music’s rarities has resulted in concertos by Bernard Herrmann, Earl Wild, Duke Ellington, Miklos Rozsa & William Grant Still, becoming part of his repertoire alongside the more traditional concertos.
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Press Quotes
‘Three Lyric Pieces represent Eric Coates’ only mature work for solo piano and are almost entirely forgotten nowadays – a pity as they are ear-catching miniatures, full of charm and Ben Dawson, thoroughly imbued with the Coates style, plays them with tremendous flair.’
John Wilson, Conductor – Sinfonia of London