Sir John Blackwood McEwen (1868-1948) was one of the most significant Scottish composers of the first half of the 20th century, and for 22 years, principal of the Royal Academy of Music in London.

This set of pieces was written while on holiday in Cap Ferrat, France in 1913 (although not published until 1918). Although not attributed in the score, the piece draws on a poem with the same title - which can be crudely translated as 'Dusk on a mystic evening' - by the French Symbolist poet Paul Verlaine:

Le Souvenir avec le Crépuscule
Rougeoie et tremble à l'ardent horizon
De l'Espérance en flamme qui recule
Et s'agrandit ainsi qu'une cloison
Mystérieuse où mainte floraison
-Dahlia, lys, tulipe et renoncule-
S'élance autour d'un treillis, et circule
Parmi la maladive exhalaisons
De parfums lourds et chauds, dont le poison
-Dahlia, lys, tulipe et renoncule-
Noyant mes sens, mon âme et ma raison
Mêle, dans une immense pâmoison,
Le Souvenir avec le Crépuscule.

This poem was set as a song by Sorabji a few years after McEwen wrote his piece.

For more information on the works, and on McEwen's other piano works (and details of a commercial recording by Murray McLachlan - which includes the immensely difficult final piece of the 'Vignettes' - a depiction of a motorboat) see:
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Thumbnail image created with Wombo Dream ( t.ly/zhJa ).
#scottishmusic #twilight #mysticalmusic
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Played by Phillip Sear
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