Availability

Piano score and part 0-571-56156-X (fp) on sale

Programme Notes

This piece began life as the fourth movement of my Oboe Concerto (1992). I subsequently made an arrangement for oboe and piano, and in 1996, another for violin and piano for Peter Sheppard Skaerved. Arthur ‘Montana’ Taylor was a remarkable but little-known blues pianist who made a handful of recordings in the 1930s and 1940s. My piece is based on a piano blues of his which I heard on the radio and which has haunted me ever since. I was particularly struck by the poignant harmony which suggested that Taylor must have heard some classical music – Schubert? – during his itinerant life.

© David Matthews

Montana Taylor's Blues

Wigmore Hall (London, United Kingdom)

Nicholas Daniel/Huw Watkins

Montana Taylor's Blues

In Tune

BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom)

James Turnbull/Libby Burgess

Montana Taylor's Blues

Perry Court Farm (Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom)

Ben Hancox (vln)

Montana Taylor's Blues

No Venue (Oxford, United Kingdom)

tbc

Montana Taylor's Blues

Royal Academy of Music (London, United Kingdom)

Orit Wolf/Peter Sheppard Skærved