Manchester Accents

A collection of works by composers who have connections with Manchester

ASC CS CD45

Track Listing:

1  Terence Greaves: Rondino for piano and small orchestra
Jonathan Scott, piano

2  Anthony Gilbert: Another Dream Carousel

3-7  Walter Carroll/Eric Fogg: Seascape: A Children's Suite for small orchestra

8-9  John Mc Cabe: Two Dances from 'Mary Queen of Scots' for string orchestra and harp

10-15  Thomas Pitfield: Theme and Variations for string orchestra

16-19  John Manduell: Diversions for chamber orchestra

20-23 James Langley:  Four Movements for string orchestra

Review Excerpts

"he classical music world in Britain is so London centred (with reason: there's a lot going on here) that those of us not stationed in the provinces can sometimes forget they exist and just how much first-rate music-making goes on there. So a CD like Manchester Accents (ASC CS CD45) usefully brings London-based hacks like me up short.

Subtitled "Music by Composers with Manchester Connections", it presents a thoroughly enjoyable collection of small-scale pieces for chamber orchestra or string orchestra: a "Rondono" for piano and small orchestra by Terence Greaves (b.1933), "Another Dream Carousel" by Anthony Gilbert (b.1934), the delightful "Seascape: A Children's Suite" by Walter Carroll (1869-1955) and arranged by Eric Fogg (1903-39), who was killed by a train at Waterloo station, "Two Dances" from the ballet, Mary Queen of Scots, by John McCabe (b. 1939), the amiable, folksong-inspired "Theme and Variations" by the long-lived Thomas Pitfield (1903-99), the Britten-like "Diversions" by Sir John Manduell (b. 1928), and the "Four Movements" by James Langley (1927-94).

None of it is anything less than charming and it's often more: melodies with immediate appeal, buoyant rhythms, transparent orchestral textures. The Northern Chamber Orchestra under Nicholas Ward sound as if they are really enjoying themselves. Even the label is home-grown: ASC is based in Macclesfield. Snooty southern asides are ill-advised here."

Punch, April 2002