Tom Henry: Light in Dark – Works for Solo Piano
Jennifer Enchelmaier
Tom Henry: Light in Dark – Works for Solo Piano
Jennifer Enchelmaier
Light in Dark is a compendium of piano works by composer Tom Henry. There are a number of different stylistic influences in this newly recorded selection including jazz, pop, the diverse influences of renaissance polyphony, and 20th century modernism.
While Tom Henry spent his early years preoccupied with the velvety, golden sound of the flute, this CD charts his later and enduring love affair with the piano. From his first short works for solo piano, through to his immensely complex and challenging two piano sonatas, Light in Dark charts the musical journey of 20 years in the life of a composer.
Pianist Jennifer Enchelmaier, the composer’s long-time collaborator, brings to each of the works on this CD her unmistakeable warm and lyrical touch.
The title Light in Dark comes from the second movement of his Three Pieces for Piano, and is dedicated to Henry’s former composition teacher, the late Lawrence Whiffin. It’s appropriate that the CD title comes from this work, as it stands about midway in Henry’s musical output for the piano. The works on the CD are therefore extremely varied, even including a touch of Broadway!
Review
Kate Rockstrom
For contemporary composers, the creative tension of wanting to express yourself through music often involves a constant push and pull between the traditional and the modern. Tom Henry is not only one of our own local composers, but he also walks that line with finesse. A composer with a breadth of compositional powers, this album highlights his solo piano works. Originally a flautist, he studied both here and overseas before fully turning to composition, completing a PhD under one of our other favourite composers, Stuart Greenbaum.
This album is a true blend of traditional styles, with references to Bach and Mendelssohn alongside delicious allusions to modern film soundscapes in the way he uses harmonies. The Piano Sonata No 1 is more angular and shows the strength of his training under Lawrence Whiffin (1930–2012), who himself was taught by a student of the great Arnold Schoenberg. This heritage is more apparent in the later works, with an extra level of compositional prowess. The Piano Sonata No 2 is particularly interesting, having been commissioned by Richard Knafelc for his husband, Grevis Beard. Henry uses a musical representation of the name ‘Grevis Beard’ to create the themes and material in this larger work.
If you have even a passing interest in modern repertoire, or just love a bit of piano music, you must get this album and give your ears a treat.
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