This recording couples world premiere piano duet versions of two important works by William Walton with the first recording of a ‘student’ piece by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Walton’s First Symphony was composed between 1931 and 1935. Crown Imperial was written as a march for the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the late Queen Mother) in 1937.

Vaughan William wrote his Suite for four hands on one Pianoforte in 1893 under the tutelage of Sir Hubert Parry. This is not only an exceptionally ‘early’ piece to find its way onto a recording, but also his only piece for piano duet.

Lynn Arnold is well known for her collaborative musicianship and for her commitment to advocating and performing British music. An alumna of Cambridge University where she held a celebrated Instrumental Award, Lynn won much recognition in various competitions during her subsequent study at the Royal Academy of Music, not least the prestigious Sir Henry Richardson Award from the Musicians Benevolent Fund.

She has recently recorded various English masterpieces, including a collaboration with the Tippett Quartet for a series of albums for Dutton Epoch. Lynn is on the staff of the Royal Academy of Music and has coached chamber music at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Charles Matthews studied at the Royal College of Music, London, and was an organ scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Charles has won numerous awards, perhaps most notably first prize in the 1999 Franz Liszt Organ Interpretation Competition in Budapest. Schott Music has published a collection of his compositions for flute and piano. His most recent solo recording is of Francis Routh’s cycle The Well-Tempered Pianist. Other recent recordings include partnerships with Julia Hwang, violin, Tony Alcock, double-bass, and the Choir of Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.

He works extensively with young people, acts as piano accompanist and organ tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, helps to direct Shipston Junior Band and also works as a coach on the annual Curso Internacional Matisse in El Escorial and Segovia, Spain.

Lynn and Charles have performed as a duet across England for some years. They have explored and performed much of the core repertoire for this ensemble in terms of both original compositions and transcriptions. A mutual passion for English music features significantly in their choice of repertoire.