Sadie Harrison

Shadows - Six Portraits Of William Baines

These short pieces are inspired by the extraordinary piano music of the little known Yorkshire composer William Baines. Baines died in 1922 at the age of 23 but left behind a substantial catalogue of over 150 works. Likened to that of Scriabin, Baines' piano music is sensuous, highly coloured and quite unlike anything being written by his British contemporaries. Shadows (Volume I) are reflections on episodes from Baines' life and diary entries, each piece incorporating a chord, a gesture or a figuration from one of Baines' solo piano works. It was particularly fitting that the set received its premiere in Yorkshire inthe fabulous surroundings of Ripon Cathedral.