IAN VENABLES (b.1955): Piano Quintet, Op. 27, 3 Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 11, Elegy for cello and Piano, Op. 2, Soliloquy for Viola and Piano, Op. 26, Poem for Cello and Piano, Op. 29.

Description: Venables has been known as a song composer in the finest English tradition for some time and his chamber music is in the same vein. The quintet of 1995 is immediately appealing with places in its second and third movement which may make you think of Finzi and Malcolm Arnold while the shorter pieces are no less attractive, with a nod to Elgar in the Pastorale of the 3 Pieces, while the cello and viola works are more passionate and dark, in keeping with the range of their instruments. Mark Bebbington (piano - Op. 27), Coull Quartet, Graham J. Lloyd (piano).