Music in Peebles presents Clare Hammond

Montgeroult                     Selection from Etudes

Piazzolla                              Suite from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Brahms                                Six Piano Pieces, Op. 118

Richard Barnard               Neanderthal Ballads

W.G. Still                             The Bells

Szymanowski                    Variations on a Polish Theme, Op. 10

A huge ‘Welcome Back’ to Clare Hammond, who thrilled us in April 2018 with her dazzling playing. Passionate about contemporary music, and also bringing to light forgotten female composers, Clare has chosen this exciting and different programme for us.

Hélène Montgeroult was the first woman professor at the new Paris Conservatoire in 1795, and she published two volumes of music after her tenure. A completely new work, “The Neanderthal Ballads”, which Clare commissioned, is inspired by early cave paintings, and explores newly discovered connections between early humans and their human-like relatives.

William Grant Still Jr. was known as ‘The Dean of African-American Composers’; The Bells suite is one of nearly 200 works. Karol Szymanowski was the most celebrated Polish composer of the early 20th century, and Clare ends her concert with his Variations on a Polish Theme.

“Pianist Clare Hammond has a knack of mixing repertoire to revealing effect.”  (Observer)