In the year 1943, whilst the world was much engaged in the unhappy business of war, Mr. Winston Churchill, an eminent statesman, was seized by a grievous illness—pneumonia, no less—which confined him to his bed. In such a state, what solace might a gentleman seek?
A book, naturally, and not just any book, but Miss Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
Jane Austen fans will easily comprehend his reasons. Her six novels, laced with humor, charm and relatable characters, offer comfort and sanity in a crazy world.
Young pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason also professes to take pleasure in reading Austen’s stories, and her newest recording infuses sparkle and confidence into music that Jane herself might have played.
Readers will be pleased to hear that Jeneba took the trouble of studying the original Austen family music book collection dating from our favorite writer's lifetime. She also accessed the records of a local music club which the author attended, the Hampshire Music Meeting. One of the club organizers, Dr. George Chard, was also Austen’s piano teacher. He was deeply involved in planning programs, and his influence upon Jane Austen’s musical taste cannot be doubted.
This new collection comprises six pieces—an elegant symmetry with the six novels—featuring works by Handel, Haydn, Kiallmark, and Cramer, together with dreamy music which Dario Marinelli produced for a film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
“When I read her books, I always find myself imagining a soundtrack to each novel,” the young pianist proclaimed. “Curating this collection has therefore been such a joy, as the music has all been in my head for a very long time.”
