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Special offer. Una Bourne: Australian Recording Pioneer - HMV Recordings 1914-1926

Una Bourne (piano)

Una Bourne: Australian Recording Pioneer - HMV Recordings 1914-1926
This new APR set reveals Bourne as a pianist of extraordinary clarity, charm and considerable finesse.

Special offer. Una Bourne: Australian Recording Pioneer - HMV Recordings 1914-1926

Una Bourne (piano)

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2 CDs

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44.1 kHz, 16 bit, FLAC/ALAC/WAV

$25.75

320 kbps, MP3

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This release includes a digital booklet

Stream now lossless, 44.1 kHz, 16 bit
This new APR set reveals Bourne as a pianist of extraordinary clarity, charm and considerable finesse.

About

Australia seems to have produced more than its fair share of pianists in the early days of recording, with Percy Grainger, William Murdoch and Eileen Joyce all being mainstays of the 78rpm catalogue. To their ranks we should add Una Bourne, signed to the most prestigious label of all – HMV, and a stalwart of the acoustic period of recording. Bourne had early success as a prodigy and travelled to Europe to study, but it was being asked to tour with Nellie Melba which established her career. Later, as well as playing as a soloist she played and recorded much chamber music. She excelled in what we might now call ‘salon music’ and character pieces, as can be seem from her recorded repertoire. Both Grieg and Chaminade were specialities. She favoured fast tempos and played with brilliance and charm in repertoire, much of which has now been neglected. In 1939 Bourne abandoned her international career and retired to teach in Australia. She has been all but forgotten and this is the first time almost any of her recordings have been reissued. They give a fascinating snapshot of musical taste and playing in the early 20th century, a time when classical music and popular were much closer bedfellows.

Contents and tracklist

No. 2 in A-Flat Major, Presto
Track length2:18
No. 5, Étude mélodique
Track length3:18
No. 4, Polka. Lento
Track length2:30
No. 1, Con fuco
Track length3:08
No. 1, Légende
Track length3:25
No. 6, June "Barcarolle"
Track length3:05
No. 11, November "On the Troika"
Track length2:47
Invitación - Los tres golpes - Pst! - Se fue y no vuelve más - No llores más! - Te quiero tanto!
Track length5:08
I. Granada
Track length3:00
III. Sevilla
Track length3:18
I. Moresque
Track length3:03
I. Allegro moderato
Track length3:42
II. Andante molto
Track length3:49
III. Alla menuetto
Track length3:23
IV. Finale. Molto allegro
Track length4:17
No. 2, Vals
Track length1:28
No. 6, Norsk
Track length0:42
No. 5, Folkevise
Track length0:59
No. 4, Alfedans
Track length0:46
No. 1, Sommerfugl
Track length1:15
No. 4, Liden fugl
Track length1:31
No. 6, Til foråret
Track length2:35
No. 6, Bryllupsdag på Troldhaugen
Track length4:15
No. 1, Humoreske
Track length2:55
No. 5, Berceuse
Track length2:09
No. 6, Mazurka
Track length1:06
No. 1, Karelsk dans
Track length0:40
No. 2, Menuett
Track length1:12
No. 4, Menuett-vals
Track length1:20
No. 1, Aftonröster
Track length3:12
II. Automne
Track length4:01
III. Fileuse
Track length3:57
II. A Song from the East
Track length1:25
IV. Fairy Folk
Track length1:19
I. Allegro poco scherzando
Track length1:02

Awards and reviews

January 2023

This new APR set reveals Bourne as a pianist of extraordinary clarity, charm and considerable finesse.

December 2022

The playing here is so good that I find it hard to think why her star has faded so thoroughly; APR must be thanked for giving her a voice again and unless you are resolutely opposed to the lighter side of the piano repertoire this is an album that will bring pleasure whenever you listen to it.
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