Pizzicato (Luxembourg)

The British composer Rob Keeley (b. 1960) studied with Oliver Knussen, Bernard Rose and Robert Saxton. He has been lecturing at the King’s College in London for over thirty years and has worked as a pianist and teacher. He has created a broad repertoire with more than a hundred works from different sectors.

For his chamber music, he prefers to explore new ways. This refers in particular to the instrumentation. The classical quartet does not appeal to him, for example, a violin. The ‘Anachronistic Dances for Clarinet and Harpsichord’ and ‘Some Reeds in the Wind’ for three oboes (also Oboe d’amore and English horn) testify to this special treatment. With one exception, the pieces presented on this recording are miniatures, at least as far as the duration is concerned.

The works speak a personal language, which is principally the result of the unusual instrumentation. The compositions are modern, but also accessible.

The performers are well-known with Linda Merrick as clarinetist and John Turner as recorder player. As soloists, or together with Rob Keeley on the harpsichord, they can breathe life into the pieces produce a flexibly textured sonic picture.

The Oboe Trio ‘Pipers 3’ and the wind instrument ensemble ‘London Myriads’ as well as the two violinists Caroline Balding and Ruth Ehrlich demonstrate the fine individuality of the compositions they play. The arrangement of the Birtwistle composition and his own ‘Interleaves’ offers the composer the chance to become a conductor with the Manchester Chamber Ensemble.

Several examples of Keeley’s particular music form an enjoyable program on this disc. The performances are persuasive and well recorded.

—Uwe Krusch