Sonatas for viola and piano composed 1933-1945 by Julius Harrison, Arthur Bliss and Arthur Benjamin - composers whose early careers were interrupted by military service to Britain during World War I.
"a superb performance from these highly gifted American musicians...The inherent understanding of Patricia McCarty and Eric Larsen and their spot-on choice of tempos are much to be admired...This is a most worthwhile and musically valuable recording all round."
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW
"McCarty's nut-brown tone is wonderfully suited to this mostly melancholic music, and in close partnership with Eric Larsen she has produced benchmark readings of three important works from the mid-twentieth century."
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VIOLA SOCIETY
"For both of these works [Benjamin & Bliss], the violist Patricia McCarty has 'technique to burn' and her immense virtuosity is always placed at the service of the music. However, the real discovery and treasure is to be found in English composer Julius Harrison's Sonata in C minor (1945) - a very beautiful but neglected work...It is exquisite music, exquisitely played with a very warm sound. The interpretation of all the works is most imaginative, sensitive and musically very expressive. Eric Larsen's playing rounds out superb ensemble performances. Very highly recommended."
AUSTA STRINGENDO
(Journal of the Australian String Teachers Association)
"This music is very demanding for the violist, and McCarty does an admirable job of scaling (literally, in many cases) passages that extend through all ranges of the instrument at speeds most violists prefer not to travel. My favorite movement is a fast and furious furiant [Bliss Sonata] that McCarty plays at full speed, at full volume, and with full precision.It is extremely impressive. AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE