Janet Graham - Composer

“...a neglected composer who was regularly broadcast in the 1980s and 90s. Composed in a unique style which fuses atonal influences with lyrical and often folk-derived melodies, this music has as much impact now as it must have done when first heard.”

“A striking piano voice revealed... I do hope that this disc encourages other pianists to explore Graham's repertoire and I wonder what other pieces she has hidden.”

“... powerfully expressive of atmosphere and place.”

“There followed a pair of piano miniatures by Janet Graham, both written in 2020, during lockdown. Churchyard Blackbird at Pentecost was an enchanting, meditative piece featuring blackbird song and elements of the Gregorian chant, ‘Veni Creator Spiritus’. Aleksander Szram’s poetic and spacious interpretation of the composer’s sophisticated, yet directly expressive musical language cast a potent spell over the audience. Receiving its first performance, Advent Thoughts was another delicate, compelling work of quiet optimism, reflecting the general mood of hopefulness of the time the music was written. A rousing interpolation at the score’s midpoint of phrases from the chant sung in the Matin Responsory ‘I look from afar’, echoed in the veiled closing bars, was elegantly achieved.”