A Carlyle Suite

Description

1. Aubade – “Here is dawning/Another blue day” (Carlyle)
2. Souvenir de Salon (Jane Welsh Carlyle listens to Chopin): Introduction – Andante – Prelude alla mazurka – Alla strathspey – Andante (Polish folk carol) – Poco lento (Souvenir of Scots psalm Martyrs) – Psalm and Mazurka combined – Postlude –
3. Encore: Valse à deux temps
4. Variations – Study in historical styles on Frederick the Great’s Theme [as used by Bach in A Musical Offering, 1747]: Maestoso barocco – Allegro rococo [with Alberti bass] – Allegro ardente, romantico – Modéré impressionistico – Recitative and March – 12-note expressionist – Calmo: sketch for new classicality!
5. Jane Carlyle’s Wit: scherzino
6. Serenade (referring to the Aubade

Commissioned by Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association to commemorate the bi-centenary of the birth of Thomas Carlyle in 1795.

Recorded by Sheena Nicoll on Rhapsody – Lyric Music of Ronald Stevenson Dunelm Records DRD 0268