Scenes From An Imaginary Ballet, Op. 74
Three Humoresques, Op. 31
Intermezzo
Papillon
Valse Suite, Three Fours, Op. 71

Canadian pianist Luke Welch, an appointee to the Faculty of Piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music Oscar Peterson Program, presents a new recording focused on the music for piano solo by British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912). The booklet notes point out that: "he (the composer) was not a fan of the new rag music and much preferred plantation songs - or what are referred to today as Spirituals - due to its spontaneity and intense, serious religious emotion ... All of his compositions are based on Negro melodies, as he was constantly in search of music from the African and African-American past and present which he used as inspiration for his own works in his unique way." Now the word unique here should be emphasized because unless you are a musicologist who happens to specialize in the genre, it's not always obvious as to what the roots of his music may be. Some of these pieces sound like the miniature piano works of Grieg, whilst the Intermezzo for example, could easily fit in as a processional march within a Wagner opera.

His music is generally bright and sunny in nature. Papillon is a prime example of this as it flutters along at breakneck speed, and could easily be considered a concert etude. The No. 6 of the Valse Suite travels into Rachmaninov territory, and the No. 3 of the Three Humoresques (heard in the audio clip below) favors the upper register of the keyboard. Luke Welch performs all of these with a commanding technique, and most importantly, with a light and expressively tempered touch. He always brings out the spontaneity and verve inherent to the music. Very well accomplished for a private production. If you are not familiar with the music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, this is as good a place to start as any.