Constant Lambert was greatly influenced by the music of the great Duke Ellington and in particular by Florence Mills star of the interracial revue From Dover Street to Dixie and of her own all-black revue Blackbird. Upon heruntimely early death in 1927 Lambert was moved to write this Elegiac Blues For Piano in her memory.Constant Lambert composer and conductor was a child prodigy who began composing Orchestral works at a tender age and establishedhimself quickly as a major talent of British music just after the First World War. Over time he became involved in the world of ballet conducting at Sadler’s Wells becoming Music Director of the Vic-Wells Ballet and as apopular Orchestral conductor on BBC Third Programme.

Lambert's Elegy for solo piano was written in 1938 and dedicated to Harriet Cohen. It is a beautiful sombre and heartfelt work.

This collection of piano duets is brilliantly arranged from the orchestral suite by Constant Lambert.

An exciting addition to the two piano repertoire Ragtime was written in the early war years and reflects both Sir Malcolm's love of jazz and his enormous respect for his friend and teacher Constant Lambert. A real audience winner. Score only: 2 copies will be required to perform this successfully.

Master Tallis's Testament No.3 from Six Pieces for Organ. Composed in 1940 Master Tallis's Testament unfolds Quasi lento teneramente in a gentle six-eight rhythm and in G minor. It consists of three variants of a theme which falls into three phrases (eight plus six plus four bars). The music rises gradually to a climax at the end of the third variant. A quiet echo of the last two bars supplies a coda and a peaceful ending in the major. The piece is one which its composer regards as most typical and with particular affection. Its title which pays tribute to a father of English cathedral music allies it to the twenty-four pieces contained in Howells' two sets of clavichordpieces the twelve of Lambert's Clavichord (the Lambert not being the composer Constant but the Bath photographer Herbert who in the Twenties published a set of portraits of British composers (including Howells) and the twelve of Howells' Clavichord (1951) the separate titles similarly evoke those of the Elizabethan Virginalists. © 1977 Felix Aprahamian

For mixed chorus solo piano and orchestra. There is an alternative accompaniment for 2 pianos timp and 3 (or 5) percussion players. Instrumental material is available on hire.

A Century Of Piano Music contains pieces graded accordingly to difficulty, originally written variously for concert hall, class, festival or home: miniatures and more extended pieces that show off each composer at their best. Every major artistic movement can be discerned in this collection of easy and accessible piano works by some of the biggest names in British music of the twentieth century. As an aid to preparation and interpretation, there is a short explanatory paragraph on each piece. Generally, fingering has been added, though not in pieces where several alternatives would be viable. / Piano