Mucha: Chamber Music

World premiere recordings, reviving the
individual voice and fine craftsmanship of a
forgotten English-Czech composer writing in
the middle of the last century.

Geraldine Mucha's (1917-2012) long life spanned two world wars and a brutal Communist regime. She was born in London to Scottish parents, both artists/musicians. Her early and evident musical talent was encouraged by Arnold Bax and Benjamin Dale. From 1935, aged 18, she studied formally a the Royal Academy of Music, where her teachers included two younger, more modern composers, William Alwyn and Alan Bush.

Geraldine Mucha's remarkable compositions breathe the Middle European 20-th century style of Janácek and Bartók: strong rhythms, often reminiscent
of folk music, accentuate a late-romantic melodic idiom.

Included are two string quartets, a wind quintet, works for flute and piano and piano solo works.

Performed with infectious vitality by the Stamic Quartet and Prague Wind Quintet, as well as eminent pianist Patricia Goodson.