— Helps‘ most popular trilogy and one of his most recorded works. The first two hommages (à Fauré, à Rachmaninoff) elaborate the luscious pianism and nostalgic harmonies characteristic of the composers they salute. Then, Hommage à Ravel surprisingly cleaves the set, offering one of Helps‘ most strikingly original works. Three strictly measured themes are presented in increasing elaboration; then finally, simultaneously — a work of enduring fascination. A student of Ravel remarked that it shares the “same sense of doom” as the early twentieth century maître.
Total Duration: 10 minutes
I — Hommage à Fauré for G. Castagnetta & H. Kasschau II — Hommage à Rachmaninoff for J. Fennimore III — Hommage à Ravel for B. Webster
