Search - Robert Helps, John [British Composer] Ireland, Spectrum Concerts Berlin :: Robert Helps: Shall We Dance

One Genuine Gem -- and a Lot of Good Music

Eugene G. Barnes | Dunn Loring, VA USA | 08/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Robert Helps (1928-2001) was a successful but minor American composer of the 20th Century, in the mold of Roger Sessions, his teacher. Helps' atonal music -- of the 12-tone persuasion -- is pleasant, at times downright gentle. This CD features some solo piano music and some chamber music in largely conventional forms.



The CD begins with an 11-minute solo piano piece entitled "Shall We Dance" (1994), played by the composer at a concert in Berlin that featured a very quiet audience indeed. It's the best piece on the disc, sometimes dance-like, ofttimes reflective, always attractive.



It's followed by a Piano Quartet, unique in that it begins with a long piano solo "Prelude" and only later allowing the other instruments to enter. There is also a "Postlude" for horn, violin, and piano, and a "Nocturne" for string quartet. Proving that good performances are vital to the success of a piece, the group "Spectrum Concerts, Berlin" play each number with maximum musicality, finesse, and technical acumen, turning notes on a page into compelling, committed musical statements.



The CD ends with a brief return to Mr. Helps on the piano, playing John Ireland's "The Darkened Valley" as a fourth encore on the same program as "Shall We Dance." Audience noises are again uncommon, and the recording is able to eliminate the applause that certainly followed the magical performance of the 4-minute piece.



All-in-all, a fitting tribute to an extremely talented composer. Sonics are first-rate all the way.



It's easy to overlook the many fine chamber music CDs, like this one, coming out of Naxos' "American Classics" series. My advice is don't, particularly this lovely little offering."