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Hidden Colours album cover

Album guide

Hidden Colours

David Rees-Williams Trio

Released
2002
Label
Late Junction
Forces
Piano, Trio
Personnel
David Rees-Williams piano, Neil Francis electric bass, Phil Laslett drums

Hidden Colours was commissioned by the BBC after a broadcast of the David Rees-Williams Trio’s arrangement of Purcell’s “When I Am Laid in Earth” prompted an extraordinary response from Radio 3 listeners. Released on the BBC’s Late Junction label in May 2002, it introduced the trio’s work to a much wider audience.

For the album, Rees-Williams arranged music by Purcell, Bach, Grieg, Fauré, Franck, Debussy and Ravel. The title suits the way the trio works: changes of harmony, rhythm and instrumental colour reveal possibilities within the music without making every composer sound alike. The album became an HMV Editor’s Choice and reached number two in the retailer’s ten best classical discs of 2002.

Hear both

The classical side contains only the source pieces used on the album, in album order. The jazz side presents the complete album whenever a dependable copy can be embedded.

The originalsPurcell, Ravel, J.S. Bach, Grieg, Franck, Fauré, Debussy · classical source works

The classical player follows all ten classical tracks in order; the same recording of Purcell’s “Music for a While”, Z. 583/2, appears for the opening version and the alternative version at position 11.

Jazzed upDavid Rees-Williams Trio · 2002
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You can still browse the complete track listing below.

No Spotify edition is available. You can still browse the complete track listing below.

Source works

The album’s complete track listing, with each classical source identified and original compositions marked plainly.

  1. Music for a WhilePurcell: Music for a While, Z. 583/2, from Oedipus
  2. Sonatine IIRavel: Sonatine, M. 40: II. Mouvement de menuet
  3. Jesus, Meine ZuversictJ.S. Bach: Chorale ‘Jesus, meine Zuversicht’, BWV 728, from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach
  4. PicardyNon-classical source
  5. When I Am Laid In EarthPurcell: Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626, Act 3: When I am laid in earth (Dido’s Lament)
  6. Nun Komm; Der Heiden HeilandJ.S. Bach: Chorale Prelude ‘Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland’, BWV 659
  7. NotturnoGrieg: Lyric Pieces, Book V, Op. 54: No. 4, Notturno
  8. Prelude, Fugue and VariationFranck: Prélude, fugue et variation in B minor, Op. 18
  9. Libera MeFauré: Requiem, Op. 48: VI. Libera me
  10. The Snow Is DancingDebussy: Children’s Corner, L. 113: IV. The Snow is Dancing
  11. Music for a While (Alternative Version)Purcell: Music for a While, Z. 583/2, from Oedipus