Dear friends, music lovers and arts supporters,

During lockdown of 2020, I picked a long-neglected book off my music shelf and began to play. It was the 10 Bagatelles of Anthony Hedges; his final work for piano, premiered 14 years previously by Martin Roscoe and gifted to me by my boyhood singing teacher in Beverley, where Hedges had made his home. Such was my enjoyment playing this music - and my surprise that only a few of his piano pieces had been recorded (superbly by Goldstone and Clemmow) - that I immediately set to work arranging to record his complete piano music. December 2025 is the intended recording date for Volume 1 of 3, and will showcase the incredible craft and diversity of Hedges' piano writing from the first set of Five Preludes, Op. 5 (1959), to the gritty serialism of the Four Short Pieces, Op. 20 (1968), to the bold First Sonata, Op. 53 (1974), and finally to the bright and evocative Five Aphorisms, Op. 113 (1990), interspersed with delightful miniatures written for younger pianists. This is set to be released on the Divine Art label in early 2026.

This is where you come in. To record on a quality piano in a top class venue (Chetham's School of Music) and to release on a reputed label (Divine Art) which will spread this music as far and wide as it deserves (all major streaming platforms and CD outlets, with copies sent to major publications and broadcasters) in total takes around £6000. This album is being generously supported by the Ida Carroll Trust, but most of the cost still remains to be raised, and funding in the arts by other such charities is sparse. If this album is to be recorded and released, it will only be possible through the contributions of people like you who believe in it and are willing to support it.

All of the money raised will go towards the recording and production of this album. None of it will be pocketed by me, and in the event that extra funds are raised, these will simply go towards funding Volume 2 of 3. While all donations will be greatly appreciated, those of £50 or over will be named on the album, and will receive a signed CD.

A bit about me: I am a professional pianist and teacher living in Manchester. I grew up in Beverley, East Yorkshire, and graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music. I now teach at Chetham's School of Music and Rossall School, and perform as a soloist around the UK. I also direct St. John's Festival Orchestra in Chester.

A bit about Hedges: a composer, pianist, conductor, critic, writer, teacher and publisher, born in 1931, Bicester, and died in 2019, Beverley. He was educated at Keble College, Oxford, and held major teaching positions at both the Royal Scottish Conservatoire in Glasgow, and for many years at Hull University, following John Joubert. There he met Philip Larkin, whose words he set to music. As a composer, he wrote prolifically in all genres, and some of his band and orchestral music is still played regularly on radio. For the piano, his output includes children's music, serial pieces, 2 sonatas and many other collections. Both as a composer and as a man, he worked with utmost diligence, humility and integrity, believing that a composer should not be an insular entity, but rather should fulfil a function within the community. He always strived for a sense of inevitability from one note to the next. This all brings to bear in his music, which contains all the hallmarks of a complete musician and master of his art.

Finally, thank you so much for reading, and in advance for your support, which is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Adam Davies

Some links...

https://www.hedgeswestfieldmusic.co.uk/ (Hedges' Westfield Music, containing discographies, works lists, press releases, biography, etc.)

https://www.facebook.com/anthonyhedgescomposer (maintained by his loving daughter Fiona)

https://www.britishmusicsociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Anthony-Hedges.pdf (my own tribute following Hedges' death, published by British Music Society)

https://divineartrecords.com/divine-art-signs-pianist-adam-davies-to-record-the-music-of-anthony-hedges/ (album announcement on Divine Art website)

https://www.youtube.com/@adamdaviespiano (my YouTube channel, containing some of my home recordings of Hedges' piano music)

https://www.adam-davies-piano.co.uk/ (my website)