Bach & Pärt: Piano Works Cordelia Williams

• Arvo Pärt (b.1935): Für Anna Maria:
• 1 Für Anna Maria 01:29
• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): 2-Part Inventions:
• 2 2-Part Inventions: No. 1 in C Major, BWV 772 01:19
• 3 2-Part Inventions: No. 4 in D Minor, BWV 775 00:55
• 4 2-Part Inventions: No. 7 in E Minor, BWV 778 01:43
• 5 2-Part Inventions: No. 8 in F Major, BWV 779 00:55
• 6 2-Part Inventions: No. 10 in G Major, BWV 781 00:55
• 7 2-Part Inventions: No. 13 in A Minor, BWV 784 01:27
• 8 2-Part Inventions: No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 786 01:04
• 9 2-Part Inventions: No. 14 in B-Flat Major, BWV 785 01:46
• 10 2-Part Inventions: No. 12 in A Major, BWV 783 01:20
• 11 2-Part Inventions: No. 11 in G Minor, BWV 782 01:35
• 12 2-Part Inventions: No. 9 in F Minor, BWV 780 02:03
• 13 2-Part Inventions: No. 6 in E Major, BWV 777 02:36
• 14 2-Part Inventions: No. 5 in E-Flat Major, BWV 776 01:34
• 15 2-Part Inventions: No. 3 in D Major, BWV 774 01:05
• 16 2-Part Inventions: No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 773 02:00
• Arvo Pärt: Für Alina:
• 17 Für Alina 05:58
• Johann Sebastian Bach: 3-Part Inventions:
• 18 3-Part Inventions: No. 1 in C Major, BWV 787 01:03
• 19 3-Part Inventions: No. 4 in D Minor, BWV 790 01:55
• 20 3-Part Inventions: No. 7 in E Minor, BWV 793 02:27
• 21 3-Part Inventions: No. 8 in F Major, BWV 794 01:04
• 22 3-Part Inventions: No. 10 in G Major, BWV 796 01:07
• 23 3-Part Inventions: No. 13 in A Minor, BWV 799 01:44
• 24 3-Part Inventions: No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 801 01:30
• 25 3-Part Inventions: No. 14 in B-Flat Major, BWV 800 01:31
• 26 3-Part Inventions: No. 12 in A Major, BWV 798 01:25
• 27 3-Part Inventions: No. 11 in G Minor, BWV 797 02:00
• 28 3-Part Inventions: No. 9 in F Minor, BWV 795 03:42
• 29 3-Part Inventions: No. 6 in E Major, BWV 792 01:09
• 30 3-Part Inventions: No. 5 in E-Flat Major, BWV 791 02:25
• 31 3-Part Inventions: No. 3 in D Major, BWV 789 01:05
• 32 3-Part Inventions: No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 788 02:15
• Arvo Pärt: Variationen zur Gesundung von Arinuschka:
• 33 Variationen zur Gesundung von Arinuschka 05:01
• Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude in C Major, BWV 924:
• 34 Prelude in C Major, BWV 924 01:34
• Total Runtime 01:02:41

Info for Bach & Pärt: Piano Works

Somm Recordings and former BBC Young Musician Competition prize- winner Cordelia Williams present two sublime voices together for the first time on album in a poetic and probing coupling of the solo piano music of JS Bach musical laureate of 17th-century Protestantism and Arvo Pärt, principal voice of contemporary Holy Minimalism. Although a quarter of a millennia separates their births, both share a conviction that faith in God, as Williams notes in her introductory essay, is the foundation of the creation of music. This pioneering coupling of the two composers reveals a surprising latticework of connections in their constant, shared striving for economy and essence. Pärts signature chiming tintinnabuli style is beautifully evoked in three pieces designed to console and comfort their dedicatees: the tolling, melancholic profundity of Für Alina; the quietly majestic and moving Für Anna Maria and the limpid, liquid invention of Variationen zur Gesundung von Arinuschka. Composed for his 10-year-old son, Wilhelm Friedemann (himself later a composer of distinction), Bachs twin sets of 15 Two-part Inventions (BWV 772-86) and 15 Three-part Sinfonias (BWV 787-801) are much more than mere pedagogic primers. Williams finds in them a richness of technical design far beyond their apparent simplicity. Here, Williams reverts to Bachs original ordering of the pieces to chart a subtly revealing way through music as intimate as it is illuminating.

Cordelia Williams, piano

Cordelia Williams
is recognised for the poetry, conviction and inner strength of her playing and the depth and maturity of her interpretations. She has performed all over the world, including concertos with the English Chamber Orchestra (in Mexico City), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (at Barbican Hall, London), as well as recitals at Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall and Beijing Concert Hall.

At the core of Cordelia’s musicality is a fascination with the human soul and the artistic expression of struggles and beliefs; alongside her performing career she gained a First in Theology from Clare College, Cambridge. Cordelia is drawn especially to the music of the late Classical and early Romantic periods: her debut CD, featuring Schubert’s complete Impromptus for SOMM Recordings, was released to critical acclaim in July 2013. This was followed in 2015 by a recording of music by Schumann, with one reviewer describing her as ‘Schumann’s 21st century interpreter and soul-mate’. Her third CD, featuring music by J. S. Bach and Arvo Pärt, has just been released.

Her curiosity towards religions and faith led to her recent cross-arts project, Between Heaven and the Clouds: Messiaen 2015. In collaboration with award-winning poet Michael Symmons Roberts, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Rowan Williams and artist Sophie Hacker, this year-long series of events and performances explored the music, context and theology of Messiaen’s Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus.

Cordelia has a great enthusiasm for presenting and introducing music; her Cafe Muse evenings bring classical music out of the concert hall and into the relaxed setting of bars and brasseries. She is also a passionate chamber musician, having appeared with the Endellion, Fitzwilliam and Maggini quartets among others. She was delighted to be appointed in 2018 as Piano and Chamber Music Coach, and Lecturer in Vocational Contexts, at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Cordelia recently welcomed her first child, a little boy.

Hearing her mother teach piano, Cordelia wanted to learn to play too, and began lessons at home as soon as she could climb onto the piano stool. She gave her first public piano recital to celebrate her eighth birthday. She spent seven years at Chethams School of Music in Manchester, studying with Bernard Roberts and Murray McLachlan and becoming Piano Winner of BBC Young Musician 2006. She went on to work with Hamish Milne in London, Joan Havill and Richard Goode, and is grateful to have received support from the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund, the Musicians Benevolent Fund, the Stanley Picker Trust, the City of London Corporation, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the City Music Foundation. She has enjoyed traveling and performing through France, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Thailand, China, America, Mexico, Kenya and the Gulf States.

Booklet for Bach & Pärt: Piano Works