Leighton: Solo Piano Works Margaret Fingerhut

• Kenneth Leighton (1929 - 1988): Sonata, Op. 64 (1971-72):
• 1 I. Lento e chiaro 08:06
• 2 II. Chorale with contrasts: Adagio molto e sostenuto 06:05
• 3 III. Toccatas and Chorale: Presto precipitoso 08:25
• Preludes (1988):
• 4 Prelude in D minor 01:34
• 5 Prelude in D major 03:25
• 6 Prelude in E flat minor 02:39
• 7 Prelude in C major 01:50
• 8 Prelude in C minor 02:46
• Winter Scenes (1953):
• 9 I. Landscape 03:57
• 10 II. The Wind 02:11
• 11 III. Mist 03:04
• 12 IV. Woodsprites 02:04
• 13 V. By the Fireside 03:10
• 14 VI. Snowflakes 02:10
• 15 VII. Carol 02:50
• Sonata No. 3, Op. 27 (1954):
• 16 I. Andante, ma un poco liberamente 05:37
• 17 II. Lento sostenuto 04:17
• 18 III. Intermezzo 02:22
• 19 IV. Presto, molto ritmico 03:32
• Total Runtime 01:10:04

Info for Leighton: Solo Piano Works

Kenneth Leighton was a pianist of considerable accomplishment and his activities as both a composer and a musician often centred on the piano. As a composer-pianist, he had an innate understanding of the instrument and what he described as its ‘inexhaustible possibilities’. Quite appropriately, his first published work was for the instrument, Sonatina No. 1, Op. 1a, and the last music that he wrote, before his premature death at the age of fifty-eight, was the beginning of a compendium of Preludes for piano, the partially complete result of which features in this recital. Returning to the instrument at regular intervals, Leighton often wrote through inner compulsion rather than as a consequence of a commission. The piano proved an excellent tool with which to write some of his most virtuosic and experimental music, but it also offered him a chance to compose simpler works for young players in nonetheless challenging styles.

“Fingerhut is an insightful, sensitive advocate of [Leighton's] music, whether measured in the form of the two rhythmically gritty Sonatas...or the more temperamental Winter Scenes...This disc is a valuable resource, perceptively filling in gaps in the Leighton oeuvre and demonstrating playing of verve and intelligence” (Record Review)

Leighton: Winter Scenes
Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 27
Piano Sonata, Op. 64
Preludes

Margaret Fingerhut, Piano
Kenneth Leighton, Composer

Sonatina No. 2
I Allegro
II Andante sostenuto
III Allegro molto
Five Studies, Op. 22
1 Allegro ma non troppo
2 Allegro leggerissimo
3 Allegro molto
4 Molto lento, molto espressivo, ed un poco liberamente
5 Presto con bravura
Fantasia contrappuntistica, Op. 24
Maestoso ed un poco liberamente -
Toccata: Allegro molto e ritmico -
Chorale: Lento sostenuto -
Fuga I: Allegretto con moto -
Fuga II: Presto e gaio - Primo tempo
Pieces for Angela, Op. 47
1 Clockwork Doll: Allegro alla marcia
2 The Swan: Andante con moto
3 Little Minx: Molto allegro capriccioso
4 Cradle-Song: Non troppo lento, dolce
5 A Sad Folk Song: Flowing and expressive
6 Leap-Frog: Allegro ritmico
7 Lament: Moderato espressivo
8 Final Fanfare: Brisk and Loud
Four Romantic Pieces, Op. 95
1 Molto moderato
2 Presto capriccioso -
3 Adagio molto
4 Allegro molto e con brio

Margaret Fingerhut
Margaret Fingerhut is regarded as one of the most poetic pianists of her generation who has captivated audiences in many different countries with her imaginatively designed recital programmes, “A World of Piano Themes”. In these programmes she explores the highways and byways of the piano repertoire, personally introducing the music to the audience from the keyboard. As a concerto soloist she has appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the London Mozart Players, in major venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican. She is often heard on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM and many radio stations worldwide. Her film and television appearances include a role in “Testimony”, Tony Palmer's film about Shostakovich.


A Chandos artist, Margaret's extensive and eclectic discography has received worldwide critical acclaim. Her numerous discs reflect her long-standing fascination with exploring lesser-known repertoire, and include works by Bax, Berkeley, Bloch, Dukas, Falla, Grieg, Howells, Leighton, Novak, Stanford and Suk as well as pioneering collections of Russian and French music. Many have been selected as the Gramophone's Critics' Choice, and two of her Bax recordings - the Octet with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble and the Concertante for Piano Left Hand and Orchestra with Vernon Handley and the BBC Philharmonic - were short-listed for Gramophone awards. Her recent disc of solo piano music by the Polish/French composer Alexandre Tansman received the accolade of "Diapason D'Or" in France. She was also the soloist in the world première recording of Percy Young's arrangement of Elgar's sketches for his Piano Concerto slow movement, with the Munich Symphony Orchestra conducted by Douglas Bostock.


Margaret taught piano at the Royal Northern College of Music for a number of years and she is currently a Visiting Tutor at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Summer schools include Chetham's International Summer Achool for Pianists and Dartington International Summer School where her teaching was described by The Spectator magazine as demonstrating "enormous skill and sympathy". She has given masterclasses in the USA, Canada and China and has also been on the jury for many competitions, including the BBC Musician of the Year.. In addition to her performing and teaching, Margaret has written articles for magazines such as Classical Music, Pianist and Piano Professional.

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