Phantasy

Album review

Phantasy is a well assembled program of English music for the viola from the first half of the twentieth century. While the first reaction may be "oh, pastoralist music," what's here is more varied and interesting than that term implies. There are the smooth, lyrical lines for the viola and the meditative, restful passages, but more frequently there are passages that test the violist's technical skill, use more adventurous tonalities, and sound downright mysterious or anxious, as in the third movement of the Bliss Sonata. And the Bowen Phantasy is closer to lush, late Romantic sound than an English pastoralist sound. The longer pieces, the Bliss and the Bowen, are like the first and final movements of an overarching work, with the smaller character pieces by Bridge and Clarke that are in between acting as the middle movement respite. What really makes it come together as a whole, and what the Bridge Duo unmistakably puts forth, is that idea of fantasy: letting the imagination run free wherever it will. These composers all knew what they were doing; there is structure, form, intentional juxtaposition of keys and modes, and specific articulations such as pizzicato in the works. Violist Matthew Jones very capably handles these, demonstrating confident intonation in the highest of registers and a usually secure bow. Yet, while it is possible to admire his technique, he and pianist Michael Hampton allow the listener to experience and enjoy these infrequently heard works instinctively and emotionally before appreciating the more practical issues of the composers' intentions or the Duo's performance. The recording's sound is good, allowing the full range of Jones' viola tone and bowing to nicely come through.

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