Prima Facie Records

Musica Sancta (PFCD121)

CAROLS and SACRED music composed by David W. Jepson

Performed by Kantos, director Elspeth Slorach; Simon Mercer, organ and piano; John Turner, recorder.

For more details see the CD web page

Music by David Beck (PFCD109) £12.50

Performed by Zephyr, The New World String Quartet, Camerata Nova Chamber Orchestra

Prima Facie continue their Reticere series with music by an old friend. David Beck is an established, Manchester-based composer - a composer's composer. We would like to share this portrait of an unsung hero. On this composer portrait compilation, Chris Swann directs Zephyr (and also plays the clarinet, beautifully) in the première recording and release of David's 'Nonet'.

For more details see the CD web page

Available to Order -
The Road Less Travelled (PFCD111) £10.00

Piano music by Geoff Cummings-Knight - performed by Duncan Honeybourne

Piano Sonata no 1
Russian Tableaux
Selected preludes from Book 1 and 2
Ballade

"I am particularly proud to be involved with another exciting and worthy project energised by my friend and colleague, pianist Duncan Honeybourne. Duncan approached me to record piano music by Geoff Cummings-Knight. There is a degree of urgency to this as Geoff is in very poor health; his wife and many supporters are keen that there is a record of this esteemed composers work. Having now recorded Geoff's music I agree with Duncan that it is both lyrical and contemporary and fits in with the philosphy of my Prima Facie label, namely to promote and preserve British Contemporary Music. We made a short film (on my iPhone and without a page turner) to give you a taste of Geoff's music. We are still trying to raise enough money to release the album asap, so with this in mind please purchase a copy here, for £10 including P&P."
Steve Plews

Geoff Cummings-Knight was born in Colwyn Bay in 1947. A strong urge to compose first exhibited itself at the age of eight, and by the age of eighteen Geoff had completed 18 piano sonatas, most of which have since been destroyed. He later studied music at the Birmingham School of Music (now the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire), Goldsmith's College and Leeds University, and his numerous compositions include a symphony, a piano concerto, chamber works, songs, choral settings and stage works. In 1986 Geoff was a finalist in the Barclaycard Composer of the Year competition and in 1998 his work was featured in the TV series "Heartland FM". His works have been widely performed and broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and his Piano Concerto, premiered in 1985 by Philip Challis and the Worthing Symphony Orchestra, received a further acclaimed performance in Birmingham's Adrian Boult Hall. As a teacher of music and drama for over thirty years, Geoff composed several musicals and cantatas for schools, plus a full-scale drama concerning the true story behind Shakespeare's 'Merchant of Venice'. Geoff is also a successful radio presenter, responsible for many hundreds of classical radio programmes on all manner of subjects.

Duncan Honeybourne enjoys a diverse profile as a pianist and in music education. His concerto debut in 1998 at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, and the National Concert Hall, Dublin, was broadcast on radio and television, and recital debuts included London, Paris, and international festivals in Belgium and Switzerland. Duncan has toured extensively as soloist and chamber musician, broadcasting frequently for the BBC and radio networks worldwide. His many recordings reflect his interest in 20th and 21st century British piano music. He is a Tutor in Piano at the University of Southampton.