The English composer Michael Brough (born in Yorkshire, in northern England, in 1960) is rather an unusual character: he is also a full time solicitor. Late in 2013, with a commission from the Swaledale Festival, he sat down at his piano and began to improvise the first of what would become 25 Picture-Preludes, in the major and minor keys. Like Rachmaninov's Etudes-Tableaux and Medtner's Skazki, these short pieces are intended to stimulate a response in the listener's imagination. Rachmaninov and Medtner are audible influences on Brough's bluesy, late-Romantic musical language. This recording was made on the 'Bosendorfer 290', a piano with an extended range in the bass. Michael Brough was educated at Leeds University, where he was the chaplaincy organist from 1980 to 1982. He qualified as a solicitor in 1988 and still advises on property and private client law. He has been one of the organists at Holy Trinity Sloane Street, Chelsea, in central London, continuously since 1986. As a composer, he has above all written songs; there is also chamber music, including a half hour bass clarinet sonata, sacred and choral music, and a few pieces for organ.

Tracklist:

25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 1 In B Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 2 In D Major
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 3 In F Major
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 4 In D Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 5 In F Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 6 In A-Flat Major
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 7 In G Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 8 In B-Flat Major
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 9 In G-Sharp Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 10 In B Major
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 11 In C Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 12 In E-Flat Major
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 13, Free
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 14 In F-Sharp Major
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 15 In E-Flat Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 16 In G Major
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 17 In E Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 18 In A Major
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 19 In F-Sharp Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 20 In C Major
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 21 In A Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 22 In E Major
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 23 In C-Sharp Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 24 In B-Flat Minor
25 Picture-Preludes, Op. 19: No. 25 In D-Flat Major

UPC: 5060113444905
Label: Toccata
Release Date: 7.6.18
Format: CD

Brough - 25 Picture-Preludes for Piano 19 (CD)