Par KOLBUSZ ALEKSANDRA. Long before writing Passalega, I harboured the idea of creating some form of organically homogeneous chain of musical tensions evolving ever more distinctly into a musical utterance, although still indeterminate in terms of pitch. The tissues forming the chain of those tensions were of relatively simple design, yet in spite of this ? or perhaps because of it ? they were inc…

Par ARNOLD MALCOLM. 'Contemporary-music-without-tears has always been his aim, and this succinct little three-movement work showed him as skilful as ever in unpretentious directness of utterance, as it were in the vernacular. For the soloist it is a gift, alike in the first movement's almost indispensable fanfare-like challenges, in melody sometmes as nostalgic as Poulenc (especially haunting in t…

Thomas Simaku's La Leggiadra Luna arranged for choir a capella. The music begins with a song-like expression introduced at a slow pace as if emerging from the remoteness of time itself. It is clearly based on the musical utterance of the 'white modality' but these modal segments are constantly surrounded by chromatic inflections throughout the work. Each section of the choir pursues its own path…

Violin and Piano. Par IRELAND JOHN. Although one of Ireland's earliest published works, his Berceuse for violin and piano of 1902 displays the exemplary grace of salon music at its most sophisticated. The finely crafted melody wears lightly the elegance of the genre, as perfectly expressed in Elgar's Chanson de Matin and Salut d'Amour. In the accompaniment, details of harmony suggest the influence…

The plantation songs known as 'spirituals' are the spontaneous outbursts of intense religious fervour and had their origin chiefly in camp meetings revivals and other religious exercises.They were never 'composed' but sprang into life ready made from the white heat of religious fervour during some protracted meeting in camp or church as the simple ecstatic utterance of wholly untutored minds…

Setting a popular text paraphrased from the Song of Solomon Rise up my love is an uplifting anthem ideal for Easter services although the text's beautiful springtime imagery would also make a lovely feature in any concert programme.The work contains expressive word painting with moments of intensity alongside phrases of utter stillness. There are opportunities for soloists and the flexible sc…

Contemporary harmonies and interesting colors are at the center of this innovative work. While well within the ability of young musicians this piece has an uncharacteristically mature sound that will captivate your audience. After a mesmorizing lyrical opening percussion begins the savage dance that grows more and more powerful as the piece progresses. Optional percussionists throughout the audi…

Dame Fanny Waterman: My Life In Music tells the extraordinary story of one of the twentieth century???s most inspirational British women. Born into an artistic family in impoverished circumstances her prodigious musical talent and sheer determination was her passport out of hardship leading to recognition as one of the most talented young pianists of her generation. Her emergence as a visionary …