Edward Cowie: Where the Wood Thrush Forever Sings (Bird Portraits 3)
A captivating new album from the extraordinary talents of Edward Cowie, a true master of multiple disciplines. This remarkable polymath, renowned as a composer, visual artist, and natural scientist, has gifted us his exhilarating third epic cycle of ‘bird portraits’ – a thrilling 24-movement composition for clarinet(s) and piano.
Cowie’s earlier works, Bird Portraits and Where Song was Born, received resounding praise worldwide and are poised to become iconic chamber masterpieces on the global stage:
“Cowie continues to be a leading contemporary composer of music that is related to the natural world.” (Fanfare)
“You may well be thinking “but Messiaen has already done it”. But Cowie’s approach is gentler, almost more loving.” (MusicWeb International)
“imaginative, captivating and really very moving” (The Strad)
In this latest cycle, Cowie draws inspiration from the avian wonders of the Americas, presenting a symphonic ode to 24 distinct bird species. But his vision extends far beyond the mere melodies of these majestic creatures. With each composition he creates an immersive tapestry of avian dramas. As with his previous cycles dedicated to British and Australian birds, Cowie ingeniously incorporates the rich musical heritage of the indigenous Indian cultures of the USA and the vibrant spirit of jazz, infusing his work with an unmistakable, awe-inspiring energy. We are transported into a world where nature’s symphony collides with human musical expression, courtesy of the brilliant performers Anna Hashimoto on various clarinets and the ever-impressive
pianist Roderick Chadwick, both of whom bring these extraordinary bird portraits to life.
Track Listing
- Book 1 No. 1: American Fish Crow (4:30)
- Book 1 No. 2: Wood Thrush (3:03)
- Book 1 No. 3: Eastern Meadowlark (4:05)
- Book 1 No. 4: Common Loon (4:25)
- Book 1 No. 5: Belted Kingfisher (3:15)
- Book 1 No. 6: American Winter Wren (3:54)
- Book 2 No. 1: Broad-tailed and Blue-throated Hummingbirds
- Book 2 No. 2: White-winged Dove (3:50)
- Book 2 No. 3: Common Nighthawk (4:39)
- Book 2 No. 4: Greater Roadrunner (2:09)
- Book 2 No. 5: Least Bittern (3:48)
- Book 2 No. 6: Geat Horned Owl (2:38)
- Book 3 No. 1: Blue Jay (2:28)
- Book 3 No. 2: Mockingbird (3:55)
- Book 3 No. 3: Yellow Crowned Night Heron (3:46)
- Book 3 No. 4: Northern Goshawk (3:11)
- Book 3 No. 5: Say's Phoebe (4:09)
- Book 3 No. 6: Red-winged Blackbird (3:23)
- Book 4 No. 1: Northern Cardinal (5:22)
- Book 4 No. 2: Virginia Rail (3:00)
- Book 4 No. 3: Turkey Vultures (4:20)
- Book 4 No. 4: Yellow-breasted Chat (3:25)
- Book 4 No. 5: Horned Lark (5:53)
- Book 4 No. 6: Bald Eagle (5:31)
Edward Cowie (b.1943):
Where the Wood Thrush Forever Sings
Reviews
“Composer Edward Cowie has found the alchemical formula for transmuting various bird cries into duets for clarinet and piano. Played mellifluously on E-flat and B-flat clarinet by Anna Hashimoto, with Roderick Chadwick at the keyboard, this group of four “songbooks” are a series of short explorations of various birds’ musical identities. I can’t decide whether it’s better to know which bird is singing as the disc plays or to simply enjoy the walk while trying to guess.
” —Max Christie
“Listeners… will find surprises here and there, as in the calls of the broad-tailed and blue-throated hummingbirds, the gentle swaying of the portrayal of the yellow crowned night heron, and the chordal quietude associated with the Virginia rail. In fact, anyone inclined to listen to this music with the same attentiveness that Cowie brought to its creation will find a great deal of diversity of sound and approach within the basic similarity of timing and instrumentation…this carefully made but highly rarefied bird study will prove very appealing…
” —Mark J. Estren
“Who knew there was a bird called the ‘Say’s Phoebe’ or the ‘Common Loon’? This two-disc survey of American ornithology is full of characters and each is brought to vivid life by Hashimoto with three different clarinets. Cowie is an endlessly inventive composer and this is a treat.
”
“Roderick Chadwick and Anna Hashimoto are inspiring in these recordings, both for the precision and clarity of their playing, and for their perfectly co-ordinated ensemble performances.
” —Alan Cooper
“Edward Cowie is one of the most instinctively and naturally talented people I know of. Delicately scored for just two instruments, this music typifies Cowie’s approach. Clarinetist Anna Hashimoto really gets into the spirit of the music, doing her best to make her instrument “speak” like a bird. As a tour-de-force for the musicians involved I highly recommend it.
” —Lynn René Bayley
“The remarkably poised, evocative Where the Wood Thrush Forever Sings is Edward Cowie’s third “epic cycle” of bird portraits. Clarinettist Anna Hashimoto and pianist Roderick Chadwick give a performance that is subtle, nuanced and always creative and revelatory. The duo are clearly committed to Cowie’s visionary, numinous achievement. The ideal recording enhances the recital.
” —John France
