HELEN HOPEKIRK (1856-1945): Iona Memories, Romance in A Minor, Serenade in F Sharp, Scottish Folksongs Nos. 1, 2 and 5, Sundown Maestoso for Serenata Suite, Suite, Waltz in F Sharp, Sundown, Robin Good-Fellow, 2 Tone-Pictures.

Description: Hopekirk was regarded as one of the major concert pianists of her generation. She also made a lasting contribution as a piano teacher in Boston after her emigration in 1897. As a composer, she forged an intriguing path by turning to the music of her native Scotland as the wellspring of her creativity. The early pieces can sound like Brahms in the Highlands, and her later works marry Debussyan Impressionism with Hebridean folk-music, to evocative, touching and exhilarating effect. Gary Steigerwalt (piano).