David Owen Norris keyboards

Norris was one of the first to record Schubert songs on a piano of the time, and has often accompanied Philip Langridge and David Wilson-Johnson on appropriate instruments. He worked extensively with Catherine Bott on fortepiano and harpsichord. He discovered that The World’s First Piano Concertos were composed for the London Square of the 1770s, recorded the repertoire on Avie, and toured it around the world. He is currently performing Beethoven violin sonatas with Monica Huggett, from Toronto to Helsinki.

He recently recorded Elgar at Elgar’s own Broadwood of 1844, for Avie. He has broadcast songs and violin music by Robert and Clara Schumann on Clara’s own piano. His collection includes a 1781 Ganer Square, an 1817 Broadwood very close to Beethoven’s, and an 1887 Pleyel with beautiful marquetry, on which he has broadcast Brahms. He is negotiating access to Roger Quilter’s piano for concerts of those wonderful songs.

Sample Programme:

A hawk dreaming poetry: A programme on a late-19th century piano of songs and piano music by Elgar that trace his complicated emotional life. It includes Elgar’s last, unpublished, song and beguiles the listener with pictures and poems.

Education:

Norris frequently gives educational workshops via THE WORKS (www.the-works.org). Recent titles include How to write a tune, How to write a song, The Morality of Ancient Pianos, etc

Recordings:

Elgar Songs and Piano Music on Elgar’s 1844 Broadwood Square Piano (Avie); The World’s First Piano Concertos (Avie); Elgar Piano Concerto (Dutton); Richard Arnell Piano Concerto (Dutton); Joseph Horowitz Jazz Concerto (Dutton)

Performances:

8 Sep 06 7 Locks Festival, Daventry Parish Church
14 Mar 07 Guildford International Festival
15 Apr 07 Yale Collection of Musical Instruments

Contact:

David Owen Norris, 17 Manor Road,
Andover, Hants SP10 3JS

Tel: 01264 355409
Mobile: 07957 322091

Email: info@davidowennorris.com
Website: www.davidowennorris.com