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International Piano

Originally recorded for the University of Hertfordshire’s UHR label in 2007, this memorable recording is now reissued on Métier. Born in 1943, Cowie studied with Alexander Goehr, but under the influence of Michael Tippett rebelled against serialism, fusing tonality and atonality. He regards himself as a pictorial ‘composer of evocations’, a description fully justified by these wonderful Preludes.

Composed in 2005-7, they are dedicated to Philip Mead, who performs them here. Cowie regards Bach’s 48 and Debussy’s Préludes as greater than their individual elements, a view that informs his own Preludes. They follow Bach’s key-scheme but are grouped into four books: Water, Air, Earth, Fire.  Mead succinctly describes the ‘neo-baroque style … wholly of the 21st century’, with ‘lithe, contrapuntal textures … in strict two-part writing’.

The pieces evoke their wild locations. Book 1, Water, opens with the gorgeously cascading ‘O Brook (Devon)’, with its pastoral-sounding harmonies. In a pattern of contrast, the next prelude – ‘KIama Blowhole (NSW, Australia)’ – is stuttering and darkly atonal. Book 2, Air, begins with the furious ‘Boscastle (gale)’ juxtaposed against the static ’35,000 feet (Straits of Java)’, its repeated note continuing for three minutes.

The book concludes with ‘Dartington Gardens (leaf-fall)’, which has a gorgeous harmonic texture. In Book 3, Earth, ‘Crackington Haven ‘ is fiery, eloquent and brief; ‘Brecon Beacons’ is rhapsodilc and plangent.  An outstanding recording.

—Andy Hamilton

@divineartrecordingsgroup

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On 10 October, Métier is thrilled to present Michael Finnissy: Organ Works from acclaimed American organist Forrest Eimold! Don't miss Paul Hindmarsh's marvelous new piece in Classical Music Magazine on the importance of Britain's Brass Bands. A great primer for our new release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton! 3️⃣ Tracks from the 3 October release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton, are #nowplaying on Apple Music Classical and more! Don't miss both of our new Métier new releases on Deezer's New Classical Picks Playlist! ▶️ Listen now in our bio link. Today, Métier presents a “monumental” (The Wire) 4-disc box set from pianist Ian Pace in commanding performances of music by composer Michael Finnissy (b. 1946). On all platforms today at listn.fm/finnissypiano Métier Records is thrilled to release “Because They Have Songs” from composer Edward Cowie and featuring Gerard McChrystal and Richard Shaw! Out now on all platforms ▶️ listn.fm/becausetheyhavesongs “This monumental piano release features Michael Finnissy’s Verdi Transcriptions plus English Country-Tunes, and other compositions inspired by 19th century music. Soloist Ian Pace is a leading interpreter of Finnissy’s work, and has played his complete output for piano. Finnissy’s output is prolific, political and complex – he’s a leading late modernist.… luxuriant but challenging textures of the school often called new complexity.” —Andy Hamilton, The Wire Marvelous new MusicWeb International review for Edward Cowie: Because They Have Songs, before its release this Friday! “Buller is a composer who knows how to imbue feelings with ample warmth, colour and tension that keep the ear immersed in his sonic worlds. The musical language is largely tonal, with some roots in sacred choral traditions, yet with sufficient harmonic pungency to provide underpinnings of meaning to Leah Lax’s empathetic, urgent texts in the two extended works.… Conspirare, led by founding Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson, respond to all of Buller’s emotional gestures with utmost cohesion and flexibility, and the soloists – basses Michael Hawes and Simon Barrad and soprano Emily Yocum Black – are first-rate.” —Donald Rosenberg, @gramophonemagazine “This performance will stay with me for a long time; it is both exquisitely beautiful and inherently melancholic.” —Edward Breen, Gramophone on Haitham Haidar's #Zaytoun