In the Wake of the Great War

08/12/2014
Geoff Adams
Otago Daily Times (NZ)

Martin was called ''the best young talent for the new millennium'' by The Australian newspaper in 2000.

He is a pianist and composer, who here shows his artistry on the keyboard playing rarely heard solo works by composers best known for orchestral music: Delius, Arnold Bax, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Frank Bridge. (Charlie Chaplin is also represented with the album's tailpiece: Martin's arrangement of Smile, from the film Modern Times.)

All were written between 1921 and 1930.

Two lengthy sonatas by Bax and Bridge are preceded by three preludes and separated by Vaughan Williams' hymn-tune Prelude on Song 13 by Orlando Gibbons.

Excellent playing of an imaginative programme now of topical interest with focus on the war centennial.

Highlight: Fine playing of forgotten music.