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Compositions
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| Keyboard Works | | Click here for SMC List of Keyboard Works
You can download the Erik Chisholm Trusts pdf version of the Erik Chisholm Catalogue of Piano Works here, which lists the price of each score and has numerous notes through out about many of the scores.
A Prolific Composer for Piano
Chisholm was a first rate pianist, a concert pianist for two years in Canada, and had a great love and understanding of the instrument. He composed many major works for the piano. His greatest works for piano, his two piano concertos The Piobaireachd and The Hindustani, are inspirational examples of the Scottish and Eastern influences in his music (see section on Orchestral Works). His Sonata in A: An Riobain Dearg- The Red Robin was given its first hearing recently at the Wigmore Hall after a 60-year silence. Like many of his compositions, it sings of the Highlands; it is a mammoth work, technically most demanding. Night Song of the Bards, six nocturnes is another such work. These contrast strikingly with a simplicity of works such as his Scottish Airs: his Easy Pieces (graded) may be happily undertaken by children.
Taken from Unsung Heroes, by Murray McLaclan, 2003
to read more click here Unsung Heroes
The Piano Music of Erik Chisholm 1904 -1965 by John Purser
John Purser examines the pianistic output of Scottish composer Erik Chisholm
If there is one word that can be applied to Chisholm’s considerable output of piano music, it is ‘energy’. Even at its most sensual (and it can be very sensual), Chisholm’s music is always moving forward; and his rhythmic energy, often derived from Scottish dance forms, can be almost manic (Example 1). But the variety of his idiom is too great to summarise, and can only been hinted at here. There are the ‘E Praeterita’ Sonatinas, with their graceful homage to the 16th-century sources; the Straloch Suite, based on early 17th-century Scottish lute tunes; the subtle miniature Cameos, each of which leads us into a different world of sound. And then there is the dark virtuosity of the Nocturnes – Night Song of the Bards, which has been acknowledged by more than one reviewer as a masterpiece. Danny Driver, who is the soloist in Hyperion’s new release of the Chisholm piano concertos, writes: ‘It is clear from Chisholm’s piano writing that he knew the instrument intimately and that he himself possessed considerable pianistic abilities.’ see Articles for more information
Arrangements for 2 PianosBallet Scores
As a result of a close partnership between Chisholm and the choreographer and dancer Margaret Morris several ballets were performed in Glasgow by the Celtic Ballet and other companies in the early years of WW2. Funds were limited and orchestral support out of the question so 2 piano arrangements were written for 3 of these:-
The Forsaken Mermaid - the best according to John Purser
The Earth Shapers and
The Hoodie Craw.
The Forsaken Mermaid CD released in August 2010 by Erik Chisholm records can now be purchased from the trust. See Recordings.
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