Robin Stevens: A Questing Soul Christine Townsend & Stephen Robbings

• Robin Stevens (b. 1958): Fantasy Sonata:
• 1 Stevens: Fantasy Sonata 15:56
• Toccata:
• 2 Stevens: Toccata 02:15
• Cri de Coeur:
• 3 Stevens: Cri de Coeur 02:58
• Stratospheric!:
• 4 Stevens: Stratospheric! 04:27
• Scherzo in Blue:
• 5 Stevens: Scherzo in Blue 01:35
• Reconciliation:
• 6 Stevens: Reconciliation 06:00
• Sonata Tempesta:
• 7 Stevens: Sonata Tempesta: I. Adagio con moto – Moderato, energico ed appassionato 10:34
• 8 Stevens: Sonata Tempesta: II. Scherzo. Allegro vivo 04:42
• 9 Stevens: Sonata Tempesta III. Andante tranquillo 10:13
• 10 Stevens: Sonata Tempesta IV. Finale. Allegro con spirito 07:25
• A Questing Soul:
• 11 Stevens: A Questing Soul 04:01
• Tom and Jerry:
• 12 Stevens: Tom and Jerry 02:23
• Three Vignettes:
• 13 Stevens: Three Vignettes: I. Beethoven through the Looking Glass 00:32
• 14 Stevens: Three Vignettes: II. Summertime Langour 01:19
• 15 Stevens: Three Vignettes: III. Master of the Rocking Horse 00:52
• An Interrupted Waltz:
• 16 Stevens: An Interrupted Waltz 03:51
• Three Bagatelles:
• 17 Stevens: Three Bagatelles: I. Tempo di Valse 01:29
• 18 Stevens: Three Bagatelles: II. Allegro non troppo 01:00
• 19 Stevens: Three Bagatelles: III. Allegro fuoco 02:10
• Say Yes To Life:
• 20 Stevens: Say Yes To Life 05:26
• Soliloquy:
• 21 Stevens: Soliloquy 02:30
• Total Runtime 01:31:38

Info for Robin Stevens: A Questing Soul

Following the release of four critically acclaimed albums in as many years, the Divine Art label’s survey of the chamber music of British composer Robin Stevens will culminate, in spring/summer 2024, with A Questing Soul, comprising Robin’s most significant works for violin and piano. The music on this album spans almost thirty years, the two most substantial pieces – both duos – being the earliest: the tumultuous, single-movement Fantasy Sonata of 1985, and the epic, four-movement Sonata Tempesta of the following year. These are both products of the composer’s late twenties, marked by soaring lyricism and invigorating, pungent harmonies.

The remaining duos on the disc cover a wide stylistic range, from the jazzy Scherzo in Blue to the freshly melodious An Interrupted Waltz; from the turbulent Say Yes To Life, which stretches tonality almost to breaking-point, to the uncompromisingly atonal, yet deeply moving, Cri de Coeur. This generous selection also contains two miniatures for unaccompanied violin, and five for solo piano: in these works, humour and quirky playfulness abound, providing a perfect foil for the passionate intensity of the ambitious duo sonatas.

The performers on this release are the wife and husband duo Christine Townsend (violin) and Stephen Robbings (piano), both graduates of the Royal Academy in London. As a duo they are regular recitalists throughout the south of England.

Christine’s freelance career includes being a guest leader of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, and Stephen, a celebrated Chopin player, is on the staff of Winchester College. Christine will be a welcome new addition to the Divine Art company’s almost 1000-strong roster of principal artists while Stephen previously contributed virtuosic performances of contemporary music for oboe and piano with Christopher Redgate (Métier MSV 28508).

Christine Townsend, violin
Stephen Robbings, piano

Christine Townsend
studied the violin at the Royal Academy of Music and has since enjoyed a varied and successful career as a chamber musician and principal orchestral player. She was a regular guest principal with the London Philharmonic and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and guest leader of the Hallé. She has given highly acclaimed concerto performances as a soloist at the Edinburgh and Salzburg Festivals, performed in Europe and the USA and has been involved in an

eclectic variety of recording projects including work with leading pop artists. Christine has been in demand as a teacher, adjudicator and chamber music coach.

Stephen Robbings
studied the piano as an Associated Board scholar at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded almost every prize for performance. He has given concerto and recital performances throughout the UK at venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall, and the Queen

Elizabeth Hall and has appeared on BBC Radio and Television. As a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician he has performed in Europe, the Far East and the USA, with an interest in contemporary music, giving first performances of a number of new pieces by prominent composers. He has also worked as a vocal accompanist and harpsichordist and is an experienced recording engineer and producer.

Robin Stevens
Born in Wales in 1958, and growing up in a musical family in the south of England, Robin’s lyricism and his love of harmony may be traced to his years as a treble and (once his voice started to break) an alto singing in church choirs. Initially a first study cellist, at sixteen he performed the Elgar Cello Concerto, complete, with the Dartington College Orchestra. At eighteen he began the Joint Course at the Royal Northern College of Music (which he didn’t particularly enjoy) and Manchester University (which he did), graduating with honours in 1980. A year later, whilst completing an MA at Birmingham University, Robin wrote a String Quintet, his first major composition. Then followed five years working on the staff of a church in York as Music Director and Pastoral Worker, where he wrote a good deal of sacred vocal music, after which Robin taught for three years, heading up the Music Department of a Senior School in West Yorkshire. His fortunes took a serious dip in 1990 when he contracted ME, a debilitating illness from which he only recovered in 2007, after which, whilst continuing to compose, he earned his living as a personal tutor, mainly teaching nine- and ten-year-old children.

A committed Christian, Robin continues to be involved in church music, as cellist, keyboard player, vocalist and composer/arranger. In 2018 Robin was the grateful beneficiary of a considerable family legacy which has enabled him to embark on the project of recording all his major compositions with some of the foremost musicians in Britain. His works include a Te Deum for choir, soloists and orchestra; Mourning into Dancing for symphony orchestra; Brass Odyssey for brass band and six percussionists; concertos for bassoon, for cello, and for viola; two string quartets; a Sonata for Solo Cello; and Fantasy Sonata and Sonata Tempesta for violin and piano. Unsurprisingly, Robin has also written a large quantity of cello miniatures, including a meditative online collection entitled An Inward Journey, which he performs himself. Robin has also recorded two albums of songs, Fire and Inspire, and Whispers in the Wasteland.

Beyond his musical activities, Robin is a regular at parkrun in Wythenshawe, Manchester; tries to cycle rather than drive; is a voracious reader, especially of thrillers and biographies; preaches every couple of months at St. Mary’s Church, Sale; loves giving dinner-parties; and, despite his best efforts, remains Christendom’s most reluctant bachelor.

Booklet for Robin Stevens: A Questing Soul