Performer: Una Bourne
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: APR 6037
Catalogue: APR
Release: 2022
Size: 450 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
01. Purcell: 2 Bourrées for Piano Duet (Arr. A. Moffat for Piano Solo)
02. Shield: The Countess of Westmoreland’s Delight (Arr. A. Moffat for Piano Solo)
Mozart: Piano Sonata in No. 11 A Major, K. 331
03. III. Rondo alla turca
Mozart: Divertimento in D Major, K. 334
04. III. Menuetto – Trio (Arr. S. Palmgren for Piano Solo)
05. Weber: Rondo brilliante in E-Flat Major, Op. 62, J. 252 “La gaite”
06. Smith: Le jet d’eau, Op. 17
Heller: 2 Tarantelles, Op. 85
07. No. 2 in A-Flat Major, Presto
08. Liszt: Paraphrase de concert sur Rigoletto, S. 434 (After Giuseppe Verdi)
09. Liszt: Spinnerlied aus dem Fliegenden Holländer, S. 440 (After Wagner’s WWV 63)
10. Liszt: Isoldens Liebestod, S. 447 (After Wagner’s WWV 90)
11. Liszt: Einzug der Gäste auf der Wartburg, S. 445 / 1a (After Wagner’s WWV 70) [Abridged]
Sgambati: Suite in B Minor for Piano, Op. 21
12. No. 5, Étude mélodique
Smetana: Czech Dances, Book 1, JB 1:107
13. No. 4, Polka. Lento
Scharwenka: 5 Polish Dances, Op. 3
14. No. 1, Con fuco
Paderewski: Miscellanea, Op. 16
15. No. 1, Légende
Paderewski: 6 Humoresques de concert, Op. 14, Vol. 2
16. No. 6, Cracovienne fantastique
Tchaikovsky: The Seasons, Op. 37a, TH 135
17. No. 6, June “Barcarolle”
18. No. 11, November “On the Troika”
Tchaikovsky: 2 Pieces for Piano, Op. 10, TH 132
19. No. 2, Humoresque. Allegretto scherzando
Tchaikovsky: 12 Pieces for Piano, Op. 40, TH 138
20. No. 9, Valse
Cervantes: Danzas Cubanas
21. Invitación – Los tres golpes – Pst! – Se fue y no vuelve más – No llores más! – Te quiero tanto!
Albéniz: Suite española No. 1, Op. 47
22. I. Granada
23. III. Sevilla
Granados: Moresque y canción Arabe
24. I. Moresque
CD 02
Grieg: Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7
01. I. Allegro moderato
02. II. Andante molto
03. III. Alla menuetto
04. IV. Finale. Molto allegro
Grieg: Lyric Pieces I, Op. 12
05. No. 2, Vals
06. No. 6, Norsk
07. No. 5, Folkevise
08. No. 4, Alfedans
Grieg: Lyric Pieces III, Op. 43
09. No. 1, Sommerfugl
10. No. 4, Liden fugl
11. No. 6, Til foråret
Grieg: Lyric Pieces VIII, Op. 65
12. No. 6, Bryllupsdag på Troldhaugen
Olsen: Piano Album, Vol. 1
13 .No. 1, Humoreske
14. No. 5, Berceuse
15. No. 6, Mazurka
Sinding: Stücke, Op. 32
16. No. 3, Frühlingsrauschen
Palmgren: 5 Sketches from Finland for Piano, Op. 31
17. No. 1, Karelsk dans
18. No. 2, Menuett
19. No. 4, Menuett-vals
Palmgren: Spring, Op. 47
20. No. 1, Aftonröster
Chaminade: 6 Études de concert, Op. 35
21. II. Automne
22. III. Fileuse
23. Chaminade: Danse créole Op. 94
24. Chaminade: Pierrette – Air de ballet, Op. 41
25. Chaminade: Les Sylvains, Op. 60
26. Bourne: Petite Valse Caprice
27. Bourne: Caprice for Piano
28. Bourne: Nocturne for Piano
29. Bourne: Marche grotesque
30. Scott: Impromptu, Op. 41
Scott: Summerland, Op. 54
31. II. A Song from the East
32. IV. Fairy Folk
Scott: Three Little Waltzes op.58 [W178] (1906)
33. I. Allegro poco scherzando
34. Scott: Water Wagtail op.71 no.3 (W414)
Australia seems to have produced more than its fair share of pianists in the early days of recording, with Percy Grainger, William Murdoch and Eileen Joyce all being mainstays of the 78rpm catalogue. To their ranks we should add Una Bourne, signed to the most prestigious label of all – HMV, and a stalwart of the acoustic period of recording.
Bourne had early success as a prodigy and travelled to Europe to study, but it was being asked to tour with Nellie Melba which established her career. Later, as well as playing as a soloist she played and recorded much chamber music.
She excelled in what we might now call “salon music” and character pieces, as can be seem from her recorded repertoire. Both Grieg and Chaminade were specialities. She favoured fast tempos and played with brilliance and charm in repertoire, much of which has now been neglected.
In 1939 Bourne abandoned her international career and retired to teach in Australia. She has been all but forgotten and this is the first time almost any of her recordings have been reissued. They give a fascinating snapshot of musical taste and playing in the early 20th century, a time when classical music and popular were much closer bedfellows.