Metier
107 products
Infrastructure - The Songs of David Sisco
Crumb, G.: Piano Music
Hohler Fels: New Works for Flute
Ferneyhough: Choral Works / Martinez, Bbc Singers
Includes work(s) by Brian Ferneyhough. Ensembles: BBC Singers, Lontano. Conductor: Odaline De la Martinez.
Schumann & Murail: Une rencontre / Ythier, Bricault, Vermeulin
Composer Tristan Murail is without doubt one of the most significant figures in European contemporary music circles, known best perhaps for his being a close follower of Messiaen (his teacher was Jeanne Loriod) and one of the prime instigators of the field of spectral music. Murail says this: ‘Early on, every young composer is confronted with an already existing musical universe. Should he accept it, play according to established and consensual rules, or instead, try to stretch or even break away from them?” His answer is generally, to develop new soundworlds arising out of the old and to concentrate not on the serialism fashionable when he was young, but the essential musical sound, investigating new playing techniques and creating a genre practically his own. Marilyn Nonken’s recording of his complete piano music, issued in 2005, remains one of the regular best sellers in the Metier catalog. This new album reflects on his encounters with Schumann and culminates in his re-interpretation of Kinderszenen where his restrained arrangement stays close (but not too close) to the original – it is also a first class set of performances by a stunning cellist. Marie Ythier is a remarkably fine cellist for whom this is the 5th album. She plays repertoire form all periods, but is particularly interested in new music. She has collaborated with many leading composers, holds several teaching posts and has received numerous prizes. Her playing is assured and deft, equally at home in the Romantic and the avant-garde.
Bach, J.S.: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2
QUARTET CHOREOGRAPHY
Rising at Dawn: Chamber Music with brass by Carson Cooman
Craven: Pieces for Pianists, Vol. 2 / Dullea
For most of his life Eric Craven has kept a very low profile, concentrating on his teaching career and quietly developing his 'non-prescriptive' composing method, a sort of aleatory style that allows the performer varying degrees of freedom. His earlier cycle of short pieces, 'SET', was recorded after Craven was persuaded by leading pianists to make his work available. Highly praised, that technique is shown again to great effect in the 'Pieces for Pianists', producing music that is varied, interesting, but perfectly accessible for listener and performer. Volume 1 attracted very positive reviews: "joyous, playful and satisfying music." - New Classics; and we are sure that this second set will find many new fans for this very individual composer.
Mary Dullea is an Irish pianist based in London, who enjoys a very busy career as a soloist and chamber musician and regularly performs and broadcasts in many countries. Her discography is exceptional and demonstrates her support and championing of new music. Her pianism and musicality as well as remarkable virtuosity make her an ideal interpreter. She is also Reader in Music at Royal Holloway, University of London.
BELL, Clive / ROSS, David: Mystery Lights / Nightflower
Ferneyhough: Complete Piano Music (1965-2018) / Pace, Smith
Brian Ferneyhough is well established as one of the leading figures in the avant-garde ‘new complexity’ school. His works, fiercely complex and requiring virtuoso performers, are nevertheless among the most successful in the Métier new music catalog. This album contains all of Ferneyhough’s music for piano from 1965 to 2018 including the Two-Piano Sonata where Ian Pace is joined by Ben Smith. Ian Pace is renowned as a leading interpreter of new piano music and is a virtuoso of the highest order. Also a music philosopher, author and academic researcher, and head of department at City University London, his extremely impressive intellect informs his performances. This album includes a comprehensive and detailed essay on his approach to the music of Ferneyhough of interest to all musicologists. He has given world premieres of over 300 works and recorded 34 albums to date. Ben Smith is a London-based performer and composer specializing in contemporary music. Ben graduated from City, University of London in 2015, and is currently a Junior Fellow at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where he previously studied with Laurence Crane, Rolf Hind, and James Weeks. He recently appeared on the new Métier recording of Alastair White’s opera ROBE (MSV 28609).
Skempton:The Man Hurdy-Gurdy & Me / Sirinu
“The unusual combinations of instruments intrigued me. The performers seem very skilled on their various instruments.”
– Henry Fogel (Fanfare)
Ogloudoglou
Refracted Resonance: Contemporary Music for Guitar
Craven: Piano Sonatas 7, 8 & 9
Eric Craven: Entangled States
Macroscopia
SOLO
Finnissy: Six Sexy Minuets Three Trios & Other Works / Merrick, Kreutzer Quartet
Michael Finnissy is one of the acknowledged geniuses in the field of new music, with a style which can be exceptionally adventurous (and difficult) but almost always retains a tonal core which reveals his myriad influences and inspirations often from folk music and classic literature. Of the current recordings in our catalog, those featuring works for string quartet, with or without other instruments, have been the most regularly popular. Here we welcome back the Kreutzer Quartet, one of London’s premiere ensembles, together with leading clarinetist (and Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music), Linda Merrick. This is the 13th in the Métier Finnissy series, celebrating the work of one of today’s leaders in the new-music world. The album contains the Clarinetten-Liederkreis (‘Clarinet Song Cycle) which features Merrick; the other works are all for string quartet. Included is Finnissy’s ‘continuation’ (not ‘completion!) of Bach’s unfinished final part of The Art of Fugue. A spellbinding and astonishingly perfect piece of four part counterpoint which extends and stretches Bach’s structures.
Sonic Fictions / Fineberg
American composer Joshua Fineberg has long been a leading light in the younger generation of composers of spectral music, following the Messiaen-Murail school; more recently he has turned to a different aspect of composition which he terms Sonic Fiction – a complex concept but which stresses the abstract music as creating its own ‘fiction’ story and world –perhaps the antithesis of impressionism and program music. On this new album, recorded in France, Germany and the USA, four major works are presented by exceptional performers all very highly regarded on the international stage – from virtuoso accordionist Pascal Contet to the renowned Arditti Quartet. The album is supported by (among others) the Ditson Fund, Columbia University.
Miniaturised Concertos & Maché
Voix Voilées
Anthony Burgess: The Man and His Music
Marcus Blunt: Orchestral Works
Astraea / Artyomov, Gubaidulina, Suslin, Anderson
Three leading Russian composers (Gubaidulina, Artyomov and Suslin) formed the Astraea ensemble in 1975 to research and perform music for eastern and Transcaucasian folk and traditional instruments (wind, string and percussion). After performing works by each of the members, the group decided to abandon notation and perform freely improvised and spontaneous pieces. This, their sole album, was originally issued in Russia only and now receives its global premiere. The three members of Astraea play on the first two tracks: Instruments include the duduk, salamuri, tar, kiamancha, chonguri, kanon, mandolin, and various types of drums and bells. The third piece, which is quasi-electronic, is also an improvisation, with a very small amount of set arrangement. It was made with the participation of leading American trombonist Miles Anderson, and is based on the text of a German love poem found in the diary of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.
