Lennox Berkeley: Collected Works for Solo Piano

Book excerpt: Sir Lennox Berkeley (1903-1989) was demonstrably at the centre of British musical activity for much of his almost sixty years of creative life. He was one of the most distinguished of Nadia Boulanger’s pupils and, as professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London, teacher of some of the leading composers of the next generation, including David Bedford, Richard Rodney Bennet, William Matthias, Nicholas Maw and John Tavener. Berkeley was a collaborator and friend of Benjamin Britten, and, of course, father to Michael. Among his four completed operas and symphonies, several large-scale concertos, three string quartets and liturgical music that has become part of the choral tradition, his impressive output of works for the solo piano might easily be overlooked. But that would be to neglect possibly the finest individual body of twentieth century piano music produced in this country with works such as the Sonata and the Six Preludes, both completed in 1945, of acknowledged stature. For this centenary publication, Professor Peter Dickinson, who knew Berkeley and his work for many years, has brought together for the first time the complete solo piano output, including hitherto unpublished pieces. He has examined sources and corrected previously published versions as well as completing the set of 'Three Dances' which the composer left only partly arranged for piano from his unknown ballet score of 1932. Pianists at last have the opportunity for an overview of truly outstanding contribution to piano literature. Includes detailed editorial notes.