HARRY NEWTON REDMAN (1869-1958): Violin Sonatas in C Minor, Op. 16 and in D, Op. 17, CLARA KATHLEEN ROGERS (1844-1931): Violin Sonata in D Minor, Op. 25.

Catalogue Number: 08P006
Label: Albany
Reference: TROY 1423
Format: CD
Price: $17.98
Description: Three attractive sonatas by two utterly obscure American composers: that's what RI is here for! Both ended up as professors at the New England Conservatory, Redman in 1897 and Rogers five years later but the former was born in Illinois and studied with Chadwick while Rogers was English by birth and studied at the Leipzig Conservatory, only becoming American upon marriage in 1878 which ended a 17-year singing career. Although the notes are quite brief and almost solely biographical, telling us nothing about their musical styles, one seems to American folk music or native American music in a couple of Redman's sonatas' movements (they were published in 1903 and 1905), while Rogers appears to adopt a rather more Germanic Romantic voice. Either way, both are very enjoyable, Redman actually being the more lyrical overall and Rogers the more dramatic. David C. Neely (violin), Catherine Herbener (piano).