ARNOLD COOKE (1906-2005): Violin Sonata No. 2, Cello Sonata No. 2, Viola Sonata.

Description: Cooke was a student of Hindemith and, like his teacher, wrote much chamber music for small formations in the spirit of gebrauchmusik. These works, all first recordings on their original release, date respectively from 1951, 1980 and 1937 and demonstrate what Cooke brought himself to this genre, something one usually doesn't associate with Hindemith: a gift for lovely, often lyrical melody. Along with what a music writer called his "emotional reserve, urbanity, and unassertive individuality", this produced a personal style which places Cooke with such compatriots as Lennox Berkeley and fellow Hindemith student Walter Leigh. Susanne Stanzeleit (violin), Raphael Wallfisch (cello), Morgan Goff (viola), Raphael Terroni (piano). British Musical Society BMS432CD (England) Original 2006 British Music Society release (04H014).