Twisted Skyscape

Price range: £8.99 through £14.99

Label:
Catalogue No: DDX 21118
EAN/UPC: 809730111822
Artists: ,
Composers: , , ,
Release Date: October 2023
Genres: ,
Periods:
Discs: 1
Total Playing Time: 63:24
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This ground-breaking album is the first of its kind – devoted entirely to new music written for the woodwind orchestra.  It features outstanding performances by the principal woodwind players of the Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Shea Lolin, and includes four world premiere recordings.

The recording was made to both promote British composers and to give focus to the woodwind orchestra. This program showcases the woodwind orchestra in all its voices: Overture for Woodwinds is bright and lyrical, while Pantomime is joyously comical with moments of heartrending nostalgia. A notable shift in the language comes with Dreamtide, which is a beautiful expression of the subconscious, with delicate and tender lines. Battle Symphony is a pictorial suite containing elements of pastiche in ten highly original sections. The album concludes with Twisted Skyscape, a vibrant and excitingly powerful piece.

Conductor Shea Lolin is a dynamic and versatile freelance musician living in London. His principal studies were in clarinet performance, composition and conducting at the Colchester Institute, and he has since developed an inimitable portfolio career as a conductor, performer and teacher.

A second album of world premieres for woodwind orchestra, Chromosphere, will be released by Divine Art early 2024.

Track Listing

    Overture for Woodwinds Philip Sparke

  1. I. Prologue (2:48)
  2. II. Cavatina and Polka( 2:51)
  3. III. Dream Calypso and Farewell (4:30)
  4. IV. Grand March (of the Chief Executive) (3:38)
  5. V. Waltz—Finale (Depravity) (3:31)

  6. Dreamtide Christopher Hussey

  7. I. Twilight’s Haze (3:35)
  8. II. Wild Reality (5:13)
  9. III. A Dream within a Dream (6:29)

  10. Battle Symphony Adam Gorb

  11. I. Flourish; II. Courtly Dance; III. Flourish (reprise) (3:06)
  12. V. Sword fighting practice; V. Soldiers’ drunken panic; VI. Preparation for battle; VII. The Battle (3:35)
  13. VIII. Lament for the Dead; IX. Triumphal Dance; X. Flourish (reprise) (3:46)

  14. Twisted Skyscape Christopher Hussey

  15. I. A Natural World (3:49)
  16. II. The Human Footprint (5:41)
  17. III. Nature’s Conquest (4:42)

Reviews

Classical Music Daily

…if one hoped for some new and interesting sounds in listening to this, one gets them…the recording…is very vivid and displays the whole ensemble very well indeed…hopefully this disc will raise the profile of this kind of wind orchestra.

” —Paul Sarcich
InfoDad

This disc is altogether successful in exposing listeners to new and interesting woodwind works that are played to excellent effect by the very fine musicians of the Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble under Shea Lolin.

” —Mark J. Estren