Brahms: Viola Sonatas op. 120, Violin Sonata op. 108: David Milsom - violin/viola, Jonathan Gooing - piano

This CD comprises Brahms’ op 120 viola sonatas, and the op. 108 violin sonata, performed on modern instruments, but acting as a creative interface between the relatively new research and performance field of ‘romantic’ string performing practices, and the use of modern instruments: a fusion, so to speak, between current ‘conservatoire normative’ practices, and avowedly ‘historically-informed’ ones. Dr Milsom is joined by his long-time chamber music partner, Jonathan Gooing, who is currently undertaking a PhD in historical chamber music performing practices at the University of Huddersfield. Whilst the works are very well-known, the manner of performance seeks to relax and modify a number of ‘modernist’ performance style elements, and is receptive to a range of nineteenth-century practices (such as some rhythmic freedom, piano arpeggiation, and string portamento) usually confined to much more specialist audiences and environments of scholarly research. This CD hopes to offer colourful and personal readings of these three seminal sonatas by Johannes Brahms.

Performed by: David Milsom; violin (Fernando Gonzalez Solar, 1976), viola (John Cockburn, 2012) and Jonathan Gooing; piano (Bösendorfer ‘Imperial’ fitted with Phoenix bridge agraffe system).