Handel: Water Music: Hornpipe

Gabriela’s extraordinary ability as an improviser, rare in the classical world, is fast becoming her trademark. The passion, poetic musicality and sense of structure Gabriela brings to classical works translate to her classy improvisations. And no matter how complex the variations, the original melody always emerges triumphantly from a musical tapestry that might weave blues, jazz, tango, Bach or Debussy into a multihued framework. Such a skill for improvisation – to blend a vast range of styles – makes Gabriela an extremely rare talent. In “Baroque” Gabriela takes some of the best known Baroque themes, including Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major, Albinoni’s Adagio, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Boccherini’s Minuet and Handel’s Water Music, and brings to her classy improvisations the same passion, poetic musicality and sense of structure that she brings to classical works.

The music on the two CDs has been selected with four key stages of a wedding ceremony in mind. CD 1 is a selection of popular music for the entry of the bride and music for the exit of the bride and groom. CD 2 includes music for setting the scene and suggestions for the signing of the register.

Though he professed not to enjoy concert giving, Grainger was one of the greatest pianists of the earlier twentieth century and had an intimate understanding of the capabilities of the piano and how best to write for it. He possessed a unique compositional voice and was, in many ways, part of the great composer–pianist tradition stretching from Liszt to Busoni for whom the concert transcription was an essential part of their art.

This recording contains the majority of Grainger’s concert transcriptions of music by other composers (his few Bach arrangements are performed by Piers Lane on Bach Piano Transcriptions Volume 3). They range from the folk-inspired Irish Dances of Stanford, full of Grainger’s characteristically extrovert piano writing, to the hyper-romantic lushness and incredible pianistic sophistication of his Ramble on Love based on Richard Strauss’s ‘Rosenkavalier’. All are superbly played by Piers Lane.

An album of music for a special day. Use this lovely collection of organ music for church weddings to make your own personal choices for your own celebration - and listen to it afterwards as an atmospheric reminder of a unique moment in your life. From Bach to Wagner, there's something to suit everybody. Inside the booklet there's plenty of advice on how to choose music to suit your mood and style and to make sure that another important element of your special day can be just that bit more personal.

Editions and arrangements by Martin Souter.

'England expects that every man will do his duty'. Robust and hearty music for a national hero from the sea songs and concert hall favourites of Admiral Lord Nelson's time, specially created for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Music chosen for its thrill factor: from trumpets and drums to soaring choral voices, this programme has a 'Last Night of the Proms' feel. It features the great and the good of English music of the past including Handel, Holst, Elgar and Walton.

Cheerful music to cook by, featuring some of the best Baroque music ever! Put this album on in the kitchen, and let the inspiration fall upon you as you chop and grind, boil and fry! Twenty one tasty tracks to add an extra flavour to your methode de cuisine!