This second album of piano music by the Scottish composer Ronald Stevenson (1928–2015) focuses on several strands of his irrepressible musical personality.

Stevenson was deeply engaged with the folk traditions of Scotland and with Scottish cultural history, and this album contains some exquisitely beautiful realisations of Celtic harp music. He enjoyed creative friendships with other musicians: the evocative, sonorous Hebridean Seascape reworks music by Frank Merrick, and Lament for a Blind Harper transcribes (for left hand) a moving harp piece by his own daughter, Savourna Stevenson. He was concerned that music for young pianists should be rewarding, and Three Scots Fairy Tales were written to challenge young players.

The critics loved Volume 1, which was released in 2015: American Record Guide reported ‘Gorgeous Steinway, strong and rich bass, clear treble—absolutely everything I could want in a piano, and Guild is a fantastic advocate for this almost unknown music. I can’t wait for Volume 2’, and Fanfare exclaimed: ‘Great joy! […] A welcome from all angles with open arms’.

Christopher Guild has established himself as a pianist with a keen interest in promoting music less often heard, including that of the British Isles and especially his native Scotland. He has worked on a number of projects with Judith Weir, Master of the Queen’s Music. He is a co-founder and member of the Edison Ensemble. His radio appearances have been numerous, and include a live performance on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune, a recorded performance from the Purcell Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Born in Scotland in 1986, he now combines performing and recording with extensive teaching commitments: at Junior Trinity in London, where he teaches piano and classes in musicianship; and at the Godolphin School in Salisbury, where he is the full-time accompanist and teacher of academic music and piano.