In July, 2007 I reviewed Albany’s first of two discs devoted to Robert Helps’ complete piano music, with no inkling that Volume 2 lurked around the corner. If you type Q11039 in Search Reviews, you’ll find my general overview of the late composer/pianist’s hard-to-pigeonhole aesthetic, along with my enthusiastic endorsement of Naomi Niskala’s scrupulously prepared, intelligent, and loving interpretations. Suffice it to say that these comments amply apply to Volume 2.
The early 1952 Fantasy shows Helps testing his compositional sea legs under the influence of his mentor Roger Sessions and, at times, early Schoenberg. Added atonal rigor and rhythmic intensity characterize his three Etudes from 1956, so much so that the 1959 Recollections’ delicate textures and neo-impressionist harmonic flavor either will come as a shock or a relief. Similarly, the restless yet transparent counterpoint throughout Quartet (a 1971 cycle consisting of four pieces) contrasts to Starscape, a brief, charming mood painting from 1964 that Niskala rescued from oblivion (Helps omitted it from his list of works).
As before, the booklet notes offer Helps’ wry and insightful commentaries about each work whenever possible. The warmth and presence of the sonics do full justice to Niskala’s colorful sonority. In short, this release and its predecessor address a major catalog gap with the utmost distinction.
