E.J. Moeran: Rhapsody In F Sharp (Two Pianos)

Rhapsody in F Sharp was commissioned by the BBC Proms and first performed in the Royal Albert Hall on August 19th 1943. Written for solo Piano with Orchestra accompaniment it has been arranged here for twoPianos. Written with the wartime audience in mind it is unashamedly popular in style with a flashy virtuosity making it immediately accessible and entertaining. There is argument among scholars as to whether it should bereferred to in the Major or Minor key as it makes almost equal use of both starting in one and finishing in the other. Ernest J Moeran (1894-1950) was an English composer who followed the tradition of R. VaughanWilliams and John Ireland by collecting preserving and using many folk songs mainly from Norfolk Suffolk and Ireland.