Inscapes’ is a multi-style exploration of contemporary music for violin and piano duo – representing the culmination of the first UK & Eire Competition Platform. Virtuoso violinist Adam Summerhayes conceived this competition partly out of a growing frustration with the relative lack of opportunities to perform recently written works, except in a few specialist venues, and partly out of an interest in encouraging the writing of more works for violin & piano duo. The winning pieces from the competition were performed at Londons South Bank. The duo being such a fundamental musical format, is always a challenge for composers attempting to try their hand at writing something significant for these instruments. Jonathan Powell‘s Sirenland is a suggestive and emotive post-Symanovskian stretching of the textural boundaries of the violin and piano combination. Lament by Rory Boyle offers clean lines and eloquence of expression in a deeply emotional work which draws on the Scottish pipe tradition of the Piobairechd. In contrast, Nick Willams‘ Mambo Mambo is an aggressive cubist portrait of Cuban music, a post-minimalist work recreating ‘vernacular’ music in a cross-cut linear sequence for ‘concert’ performance. All in all, the nine composers featured on ‘Inscapes’ manage to breathe new life in a tried-and-tested formula. Despite the wide range of styles there is an overall unity of tone and character which is the result of the Summerhayes’ sensitive and expressive interpretations. A refreshing display of contemporary talent.
Credits:
Adam Summerhayes: violin – Catherine Summerhayes: piano – Alan Brown: piano on Arcosolia and The Rhythm-Spring – Jonathan Powell: piano on Sirenland
Produced by: Gary Skyrme & Jonathan Lyness – Recorded at: the Vestry Hall Studios, London – Engineered by: Ian Hodge & Nelson
Edited and Mixed by: Mike Willox at Loungescape, London
TRACK LIST:
1. THE ALCHEMIST AND THE CAT-FLAP (6:00)
David Gordon
2. THE EIGHTLEGGED ALTAR ATTENDANT (5:05)
James Olsen
3. ARCOSOLIA (9:35)
Sadie Harrison
4. THE RHYTHM-SPRING (3:55)
Donald Bousted
5. LAMENT (9:30)
Rory Boyle
6. WHEN THE WIND BLOWS (7:15)
John Reeman
7. JAZZ IMPROMPTU (6:05)
Robert Ramskill
8. MAMBO MAMBO (10:10)
Nick Williams
9. SIRENLAND (10:25)
Jonathan Powell
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