In the years immediately after the First World War, Gerald Berners was one of the leading avant-garde composers in England. His earliest published works, written in Rome where he was a diplomatic attaché, astonished Casella and Stravinsky by their advanced style and originality, especially in someone whose musical education had been desultory. His work was the subject of a number of controversies in the musical world and, to the popular press, he became known as ‘our futurist peer’ whereas in the musical press his work was referred to as musical Bolshevism – these two ‘isms’ being interchangeable as epithets for extremes in art. Heritage Records has joined forces with Lord Berners Trust to produce a 2 CD package showcasing the extraordinary creativity of Gerald Berners. The set features the complete vocal music, piano music and music for piano duet and also included are historical orchestral recordings and recordings made by Berners himself.