Reviews

The disc is a delight from beginning to end. There is nothing not to like about this CD if you’re interested in pleasing and well-crafted tonal music, full of charm and life. Performances and recording leave nothing to be desired, and the disc is highly recommended…

This new issue on Metier devoted to songs and chamber music is just the ticket! A treasure trove of works recorded for the first time and in good sound and some very fine performances.

Fascinating musical journey… [Dubery] works in a traditional musical language that is approachable, but sometimes demanding. The masterpiece in my opinion is the Cello Sonata… must surely enter the repertoire. There is not a bar of this piece that is not interesting, enjoyable and satisfying. All in all this is a great ‘retrospective’ CD of music by the Mancunian composer David Dubery. Let us hope that over the coming years many other works from his catalogue find their way into the recording studio.

David Dubery is firmly among … contemporary composers [who] are content to explore creatively more conventional forms and idioms and in doing so to present players and listeners with a very different set of challenges and rewards [than the cutting edge of modernity]… this music is indeed a treat for listeners too.

This is attractive and inoffensive music. Dubery writes in a lyrical and accessible vein. The performances are all of a reasonably high standard with an impressive line-up of artists.

The instrumental works are quite concise… conservative harmonically. It is very pleasant to listen to. Though not particularly deep in its emotional pull, it has much beauty and humour. All of the performers here are competent and seem to be enjoying themselves… [the] quite lovely songs are sung with beautiful intonation and clear diction by Murray. I enjoyed it a great deal

I would heartily like to recommend [this disc] as a superb example of modern chamber music. Everything is 5 star. The virtuoso playing from the eminent musicians … is breathtaking. [Dubery] should be a household name in the classical music world!

I use classical music to help me to relax after a long day at work, and this CD is perfect, especially those songs with vocals, sung beautifully by Adrienne Murray. My favourite is Sudden Light, closely followed by Remember. I could listen to her sing all day! I wish I could say more about the […]

This CD by David Dubery is a stunning showcase of his amazing talent as a composer. The beautiful voice of Adrienne Murray suits the songs well and she conveys the meaning of each song wonderfully. David Dubery is one of todays great talents and hopefully we will hear a lot more from him

Craven’s 12 pieces possess more than a modicum of musical interest … I was intrigued by much of it, and recommend it to those prepared to take a punt. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Craven’s tonality is literal and daringly untreated; triads shocking in their nakedness. ‘Two’ and ‘Four’ flirt with Romanticism (albeit filtered via Bill Evans); other pieces are sketched over memories of Baroque lines. But Craven’s aloof distance from his material makes these stylistic reference points fade, refocusing attention on a renewed pool of raw gestures. He cuts across stylistic allegiances, those same old same old allegiances that box so many composers in. Set for Piano might have been written 50 years ago; could probably be written at any point in the future too. What’s more, I don’t want to know when it was written. I prefer to suspend my disbelief.

This excellent disc acts as a reminder of the clarity of Fox’s voice and the depth of his language. Alfrun Schmid is a superb vocal soloist. Her pitching is exemplary. The flighty viola part [in Natural Science] is superbly rendered. The keyboard Sol-Fa Canon for Aldo Clementi makes for the perfect end for a stimulating disc.

The message is clear – equal temperament is useful, and here’s some beautiful sounds created from it.

Often very beautiful to listen to. The playing of the Trio Scordatura is excellent throughout in what must be music peculiarly difficult to keep in tune. The recording enables one to hear every detail.

[The Sol-Fa Canon] is fun and puts a fitting end to this interesting disc. The instrumental playing is excellent throughout…. Fascinating.

Whether it is ultra-high cantabile, stunning virtuosity or intimate reverie, Skaerved seems in his element. Indeed … a reading of impeccable virtuosity. It is in the final movement that the violinistic fiendishness of the title really comes in, and Skaerved rises to every challenge.

The musical language of these pieces extends beyond traditional harmonic idioms, though not far beyond violinistic ones … interesting and even fascinating. Violinist Peter Sheppard Skaerved plays with technical acuity throughout, bringing to bear on the set his own sharp intellect and sense of characterization (all of which the engineers serve well in clean recorded sound).

The music is well crafted, well performed, and it is worth getting know…

The music encompasses various moods and much if the invention is both fresh and strikingly original. Veale knows how to write a melody and to present it cogently. [Crawford’s] Clarinet Quintet is a fantastically imaginative piece and is surely one of Crawford’s masterpieces. This is a generously timed disc and the enterprise… is to be valued.

At last… John Veale’s String Quartet is available… [a] gem. [The Impromptu] is magical. Crawford  has comparatively few works to his name but is rightly admired…  he is a craftsman of the highest order. Splendid music. John Turner is known as the UKs finest recorder player and his performances are excellent and reliable. [ Linda Merrick’s] sound and intonation is first class.  The Adderbury Ensemble are also very good as is the sound. An important CD.