Reviews

We are appreciative of all the composers associated with A Garland for John McCabe, an anthology of tributes from 19 composers to the memory of McCabe. This album is a fitting remembrance for one of England’s finest musicians.

One of the most individual and distinctive composers not just in the music of his native Russia but in Western Classical music as a whole. He is his own man, a truly original voice. [The Symphony’s] three movements are captivating, mesmerising, utterly compelling. The performances sound terrific, the recordings clear and bright, brilliantly re-engineered. Superb.

[The works] are very effective and original. Leach is a fine player—more than capable of managing the virtuosic demands of this music.

The carols combine gentle contemporary harmonies with stylistic touches redolent of the medieval and Renaissance periods. These warm, youthful voices are perfect for the music. If you’re in the market for some intimacy and charm this holiday season, look no further.

Ian Mitchell continues to sharpen Gemini’s reputation as a group of eclectic and open-minded musicians with a fondness for new compositions. The overall presentation is solid…traditional and idiomatic selections are well done—the Bowen is beautifully played, and the White and the Smith are clean and rhythmic.

Both players have a lush sound that is captured beautifully. This program is easy listening in the least pejorative sense.

Artyomov’s religious style is intense, yet on a broad, slowly shifting scale—not unlike Bruckner. His music reminds me of Messaien, with his considerable attention to texture and color. {The first part of the Symphony} is one of the most stunning sections of music I have heard in recent memory. I highly recommend this album.

Travelling Light is probably my favourite of the [three discs reviewed this month]. Turner is on excellent form; technically secure and musically convincing. He is supported and accompanied by a cast of exceptional musicians. Fantastically satisfying music, brilliantly played; musicianship of the highest calibre.

A CD of John Turner is always a pleasure. Wind Blown features the Sonatas for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Recorder. Idiomatically written, they demand the highest levels of technical facility and expressive maturity. . I enjoyed the unusual scoring, and was impressed by how well each voice’s part was written.

The Greek kalanda, or carols, an old format, are given new life by this modern Cyprus-born composer. If you are sated with Jingle Bells and all the faux-bonhomie pumped out by the likes of Magic FM, this soprano(s)-plus-piano recital will do especially well.

Greek texts represent a slightly different view of the traditional Christmas, echoing the Greek Orthodox celebrations. [The composer’s] attractively melodic music has its own distinctive traditional elements to it too.

Terashi’s account proves there is real emotional weight here … the A major [Sonata by de Seixas] is meltingly lovely. Much to enjoy. (Four stars)

This latest in the series of CDs by Cooman and/or Erik Simmons (who plays) is the one we like best. Organ music can be a little formal or even ponderous, and there’s that whole echoey in a church thing going on, too. Not this time. This new CD sees the organ at the more meditative end of the repertoire… gentle and more accessible than most.

An interesting, experimental soundscape is shown to us. It’s a very interesting CD, with total conviction in performance, and absolute commitment from everyone involved in this project.

Bringing together such a terrific group of experienced, and creative musicians as these to this new Rawsthorne project, guarantees that the finished CD would be an excellent addition to the ever-growing catalogue of Rawsthorne recordings available. Alongside the Rawsthorne works, there are also other auditory delights and rarities… this is a fine recording indeed, with a true balance between the Rawsthorne works with the shorter rarities by other composers interspersed.

An album of considerable value. For anyone interested in 20th century British music this is an extremely desirable introduction to one of its still-neglected masters; for Rawsthorne fans, it’s an absolute must.

Chamber music by this imaginative and talented American composer. In all of these works, Fineberg displays a keen ear for sonority, spatial ordering, and structure. The resulting recital makes for an absolutely fascinating listening experience. The renditions of each piece are absolutely convincing. Highly recommended to the adventurous.

Stylistically, the music varies dramatically, sometimes vaguely echoing Prokofiev, at others taking on a Satie-like coolness, at times sounding like an out-take from Bartok’s Mikrokosmos, at others darting over the keyboard like some anonymous post-Webernist [with] a number of vital and delightful pieces. There can be no complaints about the performances or the sound.

This disc may be my favorite among the five Cooman CDs to come within my purview for its repertoire. Once again Erik Simmons is Cooman’s able advocate at the keyboard and pedals, and well recorded. Recommended.

The performances seem excellent, with no lack of commitment or understanding. . He is an intriguing composer and a mystic, and it will be interesting to see what else is uncovered. For now, a thumbs-up.