TWO PIANO RECITAL FOR FOUR AND EIGHT HANDS BY SALISBURY CATHEDRAL MUSICIANS - Archived

The Cathedral’s musicians give an unusual recital of Music for Four and Eight Hands on two pianos in the cathedral’s Trinity Chapel at 7.30pm on Monday 20 November.

David Halls (Director of Music), Daniel Cook (Assistant Director of Music), Timothy Ravalde (Organ Scholar) and Timothy Hone (Head of Liturgy & Music) perform a programme of piano duets by Bach, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Walton and two original piano duets for eight hands by Smetana.

The concert opens with Mozart’s great Sonata in D K448. The climax of the concert will be performances of Smetana’s Sonata in One Movement and the Rondo in C. A concert pianist himself, these are some of the only original compositions for two pianos and eight hands in the repertoire, written whilst Smetana was teaching in Prague. They are fascinating pieces. The Sonata, written shortly after his marriage, mirrors one of the sunniest periods in his troubled life with its predominantly joyous character. The Rondo also has a freshness and strength which, like so much of Smetana’s music, ensures its continuing popularity. As Tim Hone remarked, “How often do you get a chance to hear and see a performance of four pianists at two pianos?”

There is no charge for admission to this special Two Piano Recital for Four and Eight Hands but there will be a retiring collection in aid of the piano fund.