George Malcolm, who died in 1997, irreverently called the harpsichord the ‘jangle box’, yet he was a master of that instrument and of several other musical domains as well. Of Scottish ancestry, he was born in London in 1917 and when he was just seven he was admitted to the Royal College of Music. He also excelled at the organ and at the piano (his first keyboard instrument) and as a choral conductor, he served as Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, beginning in 1947. Pianist András Schiff, who recorded with Malcolm on several occasions, commented that he ‘was a great musician, a Renaissance man, a wonderful human being. He has been influential in the development of choral and instrumental music in Britain and abroad and l consider myself one of the fortunate recipients of his immense knowledge, broad culture and excellent taste. He should never be forgotten.’ In 1965, Malcolm was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Although from an earlier age of Baroque performance practice, these recordings have a vividness and freshness that leap out of the speakers more than sixty years after they were made. They receive their first reissue on Decca CD.
DOMENICO SCARLATTI
Sonata in G major, Kk 146
Sonata in B minor, Kk 33
Sonata in A major, Kk 24
Sonata in D minor, Kk 9
Sonata in B flat major, Kk 544
Sonata in F major, Kk 505
Sonata in C major, Kk 132
Sonata in G major, Kk 169
Sonata in B flat major, Kk 202
Sonata in F minor, Kk 519
Sonata in E major, Kk 380
Sonata in B major, Kk 245
Sonata in G minor, Kk 8
Sonata in A major, Kk 322
Sonata in D major, Kk 29
Sonata in G major, Kk 125
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971
Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903
George Malcolm, harpsichord
FIRST RELEASE ON DECCA CD
Recordings: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London, UK, 7–8 & 14–15 December 1953 (Scarlatti), 16–17 November & 6 December 1954 (Bach)
‘George Malcolm clearly delights in playing with colours … this disc will prove very rewarding: the sheer technical brilliance of the playing … and the faultless rhythmic control make these performances outstanding.’ (Scarlatti) Gramophone
‘Malcolm’s outlook on the Fantasia gives us new insight into its poetical and meditative aspects; he plays it as if he were in rapt contemplation of the quintessential Bach … The Italian Concerto, too, gains a new lease of life in this altogether splendid version … This is a disc which should form part of every Bach lover’s collection.’ (Bach) Gramophone