ARTHUR BENJAMIN (1893-1960): Violin and Piano: Sonatina, 3 Pieces, A tune and variations for little people, Viola and Piano: Le tombeau de Ravel, Sonata, From San Domingo, Jamaican Rumba (arr. William Primrose [1904-1982]).

Description: As the notes point out, Benjamin grew up not knowing the difference between "serious" and "light" music and later critics would use this against him, particularly since his Jamaican Rumba of 1937 became the piece by which even non-classical listeners came to know him. What he did was always write attractive and approachable music regardless of what label others stuck on it and this recital demonstrates that. The two largest-scale works are the 1924 Sonatina and the 1942 viola sonata, the latter offering some of the bleakest and most deeply-felt music that Benjamin ever wrote in its first movement Elegy. Lawrence Power (violin, viola), Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano).