Iain Simons on VW's Six Studies in English Folk Song:

>The recommended recording that I obtained from the internet is Eileen
>Croxford and David Parkhouse on an EMI British composers series.  Does
>anyone have any other recommendations/suggestions?

I also heard these gems on the radio a few years back.  The EMI British
Composers Series is perfectly fine.  It also includes the "Phantasy
Quintet, Violin Sonata, and the String Quartet #2--an endlessly enjoyable
disc.

In fact, if you play piano reasonably well, find an instrumentalist partner
and play away--it's arranged for many different instruments and the piano
part is moderately easy.  #2 and #4 are priceless in my book.

I am playing these with a friend, (he plays flute), at an amateur music
making party, (all the music our professors would not allow us to play),
where we are doing the VW, and for one and two pianos four hands--Faure's
"Dolly Suite," Copland's "Hoe Down, (really really fun!), Ravel's "Pavane,"
(arr.  by Castelnuovo-Tedesco), Rach's "18th Variation;" and I arranged
Prokofiev's "Diabolic Suggestion," from "Four Pieces," Op. 4, for two
pianos 4 hands.

My arrangement of the Prokofiev brings the difficulty down to about the
skill level of Bartok's "Allegro Barbaro." If you don't know this piece,
check out Frederic Chiu's performance on Harmonia Mundi--an amazing
performance of some amazing music.  (HMU907169)

We're still working the kinks out of the Prokofiev, but soon I'll make the
final draft available to those who wish to try it out.

John Smyth