Frederick Septimus Kelly (1881-1916)
Sonate pour violon et piano en sol majeur

Arthur Somervell (1863-1937)
Deux conversations sur Bach, pour 2 violons et piano

Arnold Bax (1883-1945)
Deuxième sonate pour violon et piano

Rupert Marshall-Luck, violon
Matthew Rickard, piano

A Sonata written by an Olympic rowing champion and composed during active service in the First World War has received its World Première recording on the label EM Records. The new release from EM Records features the World Première recording of this Sonata alongside two other works composed in 1915: The Second Sonata by Arnold Bax was written as a direct response to the First World War and the influence of contemporary events can be heard in the work’s overall dark coloration, in the intensity of its textures, and in its unsettling extremes of registration. By contrast, Arthur Somervell’s Two Conversations about Bach for two violins and piano display a lighter aspect: although short, the pieces display a beauty of craftsmanship and elegance of construction that makes them most compelling.