Adam Summerhayes ‘Inscapes 1’

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 Also available as downloads: