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<< -- 2 -- Patric Standford ADVENTURER AND VIRTUOSO
Vincent Wallace was both an adventurer and a virtuoso.
Not only was he able to play all the instruments in his father's
regimental band and write superb vocal music, he was able to perform
both violin and piano concertos in the same concert programme -- and
often did.
In 2001, the Australian pianist Rosemary Tuck gave the
inaugural performance in the new William Vincent Wallace Millennium
Plaza in Waterford, Ireland -- Wallace's birthplace in 1812.
Her splendid performance of these Celtic Fantasies demonstrate
their composer's pianistic virtuosity and in so doing reveal
something of a debt to Mendelssohn [listen --
track 5: 0:10-1:08] and
possibly Schumann and Chopin [listen -- track 11,
0:00-0:59] weaving
stylistically predictable yet impressive variations around
familiar Irish tunes, as he does here with The Last Rose of
Summer [listen -- track 14, 1:58-2:30]
and one of its flamboyant
variants [listen -- track 14, 2:44-3:43].
Perhaps the enjoyment
of about twenty six Irish and Scottish melodies incorporated into
seventeen entertaining fantasies might inspire the expansion
of the virtuoso pianist's repertoire, if only for very
suitable encores!
Copyright © 2 July 2003
Patric Standford, Wakefield, UK
The Meeting of the Waters - William Vincent Wallace Celtic Fantasies
CACD88042 DDD Stereo 78'32" 2002 Cala Records Ltd
Rosemary Tuck, piano
William Vincent Wallace: The Minstrel Boy and Rory O'More; The Bard's Legacy; Coolun, Gary Owen and St Patrick's Day; The Meeting of the Waters and Eveleen's Bower; Melodie Irlandaise; Annie Laurie; Roslin Castle and A Highland Lad My Love Was Born; Homage to Burns: Impromptu on 'Somebody' and 'O, For Ane and Twenty Tam'; The Keel Row; Ye Banks and Braes; Charlie is my Darling and The Campbells Are Comin'; My Love is Like A Red, Red Rose and Come O'er The Stream, Charlie; Comin' Thro' The Rye; The Last Rose Of Summer; Kate Kearny and Tow, Row, Row; Robin Adair; Auld Lang Syne and The Highland Laddie |
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