Encircling
Daphne Gerling and Tomoko Kashiwagi
Acis APL53974 (acisproductions.com/encircling-daphne-gerling)
Listen
Passacaglia on an Old English Tune, Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979) - Listen on Spotify
'III. Complainte' from Viola Sonata, Op. 25, Marcelle Soulage (1894–1970) - Listen on Apple Music
Fantaisie, Op. 18, Hélène Fleury-Roy (1876–1957) - Listen on Amazon Music
Read the Review
Encircling, the new CD from violist Daphne Gerling and pianist Tomoko Kashiwagi, features music by the English violist and composer Rebecca Clarke and three of her female contemporaries. It was inspired by Gerling’s doctoral research that celebrated the centennial of the 1919 Berkshire Composition Competition in America (Acis APL53974 acisproductions.com/encircling-daphne-gerling).
Clarke’s Passacaglia on an Old English Tune opens the disc. The Viola Sonata Op.7 by the virtually unknown English composer Kalitha Dorothy Fox (1894-1934) was rediscovered as one result of the project to find as many of the 72 entries in the 1919 competition as possible; it’s a world premiere recording.
The Viola Sonata Op.25 by the French composer Marcelle Soulage (1894-1970) may possibly have been entered in the competition, although the entry deadline preceded the sonata’s November 1919 completion. The Fantaisie Op.18 by Hélène Fleury-Roy (1876-1957) completes the CD.
There’s nothing spectacular here, but it’s still a beautifully played and recorded recital of finely crafted and fascinating works.
