This recording pairs music for violin and piano by two young British composers who found themselves marooned in American exile by World War II: Richard Arnell (1917–2009) and Stanley Bate (1911–59). Both composers established respectable careers for themselves in the New World before returning to Britain, Arnell in 1947 and Bate in 1949. Arnell’s music can be warmly lyrical and fiercely dramatic by turn, rather like its composer. Bate’s First Violin Sonata has echoes of two of his teachers – Vaughan Williams and Hindemith.

Plymouth-born violinist Patrick Wastnage attended Dartington College of Arts from the age of sixteen. He went on to the Guildhall School of Music, where he studied with Yfrah Neaman, Erich Gruenberg, David Takeno and later with Sándor Végh. He joined the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1986, he has led a parallel career as soloist and chamber-music player, performing in concerts all over the UK and abroad. Elizabeth Dunn studied the piano at the Guildhall School of Music with Geraldine Peppin. Since then she has performed extensively as soloist, accompanist and in chamber groups with members of London orchestras.