Rebecca Clarke (1886-1978) is best known for her Viola Sonata of 1919, although her other compositions remain on the musical fringes.

Born in Harrow, England, Rebecca studied at the Royal Academy of Music, at first the violin and much later as the first female student of Charles Villiers Stanford. He encouraged her to migrate from the violin to viola the instrument with which she carved a career as an orchestral musician. In 1916 she went to America and from that time began her recognition as a composer.

Alongside Rebecca Clarke's Viola Sonata on this disc, violist Martin Ruman has selected her early Lullaby of 1909 and later works of 1944, the Passacaglia on an Old English Tune and I’ll Bid My Heart Be Still. The programme notes put these pieces into context, and Rebeccas Clarke’s position within the Women's movement following the First World War.  It was not an easy ride and she had to call upon her alias Anthony Trent to assist her!

This is the first Eastern European recording of music by Rebecca Clarke.