HERBERT HOWELLS (1892-1983): String Quartet No. 3 “In Gloucestershire”, Piano Quartet in A Minor, Op. 21, Lady Audrey’s Suite for String Quartet (First Recording).

Description: Howells’ style, immediately recognizable for its long melodic lines, rhapsodic nature and rich harmonies, is heard to great advantage in this program of chamber works from 1915 to 1920. A nostalgic ‘heartache’ for the ‘real Gloucestershire,’ can be heard in the Third quartet and the charming little character stories in Lady Audrey’s Suite (“The 4 Sleepy Golliwogs’ Dance”, “The Little Girl and the Old Shepherd”, “Prayer-time” and “The Old Shepherd’s Tale”) tell of countryside and church, while the Piano Quartet is dedicated “To the Hill at Chosen and Ivor Gurney who knows it,” portraying a favorite local vantage point at different seasons as well as poignantly remembering a lost friendship. Dante Quartet, Gould Piano Trio w/David Adams (viola).