Classical Music

The third in Metier's 20th century British Piano Music series based on Tippett's Sonatas, this CD contains his Fourth Sonata and works by Colin Matthews, Constant Lambert and Robert Saxton, central figures in mid-late 20th century music.

For most classical music collectors, the names on this CD will be new, and some will be surprised that composing Trombone Concertos appears to be a thriving industry in Romania. Metier is proud and delighted to present this excellent and distinctive music for your entertainment and edification.

British composer Rob Keeley lectures in composition at Kings College London – as a pianist he has had works written for him by Birtwistle, Finnissy and many others. As a composer he has produced two symphonies and a wide range of vocal and chamber music; he likes to explore unusual combinations of instruments and this together with his ability to produce delightful works of great originality makes this album exceptionally satisfying. It includes his arrangement of a piece which Harrison Birtwistle wrote for him: unlike Birtwistle’s more infamous works this is a beautiful little piece. The composer plays harpsichord in several pieces – the other four soloists are all at the top of their respective instrumental ‘trees’ in the UK and well known to Metier customers; two of the three ensembles are specialists in new music and extending technique and repertoire: Pipers 3 is a unique trio of oboes while London Myriad is a flexible ensemble, here configured as a wind quartet (flute, oboe, clarinet & bassoon).

Gerhard's music is inspired by his Catalan roots, and from his exile from 1938) in England. He died just as his true worth as a composer of music in many genres was becoming appreciated. Always wanting to push back the barriers of the musical imagination, his music is seen by some as "hard work" but is in fact very melodic and accessible - invariably worth the effort.

One American composer, Morton Feldman, somewhat notorious for his sometimes epic works, and one British, uncompromisingly individual and a leader in the field of "non-traditional" sounds; the two have quite a lot in common. Here, both present chamber works which are (relatively) orthodox, yet still at the cutting edge of quality modern music.

One of Metier's first issues, and re-issued by demand, this CD is valuable to lovers of English music because Howells' music is still under-rated and ignored. The very fine musicians help to make this an essential recording.

Laurence Crane's music is thoroughly contemporary, but has hardly a dissonance in the whole 80 minutes of this CD. His music can be described as super-minimalist, but that would ignore the incredibly fine transitions of harmony and time embedded in his works. Ultimately this is music for the post-modernist age, and it can have no better advocate than Michael Finnissy, himself one of the foremost composers of our time.

Edward Cowie is one of the most individual and notable voices in contemporary music - which he sees as both conscious and unconscious sensitivity to sound. Highly inspired by Nature and our world, he works with sound, color, order and disorder, shape, pattern and form which he sees a part of a grand unification of sensual input. The two works here are linked by one inspiration: water and it's natural environments. Both Concertos, which are each presented in one movement, are highly focused, dramatic and dynamic, and are important contributions to the 21st century orchestral repertoire. Alan Hacker overcame a severe disability to become one of Britain's most respected and gifted soloists and in all his work, whether in the core classics or contemporary arena, showed an ability and musicianship above most others. He accompanies the Royal Liverpool Phil., which at the time of this recording was perhaps at one of it's peaks of performance. Howard Williams is said by the composer to be the conductor who brings out the most in his music. The pianist in the Concerto for Orchestra is the celebrated Martin Roscoe.

This CD presents a range of the finest new works for flute solo (and some with accompaniment) from some of Europe's most dynamic and forward-thinking composers. Richard Craig is a specialist in new music whose technique and ability are well demonstrated in these virtuosic works. All of the pieces here, apart from those by Ferneyhough and Sciarrino, are given their world premiere recordings on this CD.

Michael Finnissy is one of the best known and most productive of modern British composers, and highly featured in the Metier catalogue. These beautiful motets are lyrical and deeply spiritual, in an accessible modern idiom.

John Ramsay is a professor of geology by profession but also a very serious composer, of both chamber and orchestral works. His style is chiefly tonal though he does utilise serial techniques on occasion. The four string quartets are perfect examples of the best of 'post-modernist' music, employing no artificial boundaries, but being pure self expression using the most appropriate musical forms. They are to some degree programmatic and thus Romantic in idiom too and thoroughly deserve a place in the chamber music repertoire.

Two major works for string quartet which both present structured, yet polystylistic forms- attuned to the modern ear, which is used to hearing sound bites - and what Schwartz calls collage-oriented. It is rare to find music written with so much emphasis on the listener.

Eight piano works by McCabe, now one of the most respected figures in British music, played by Gramophone Magazine award nominee Tamami Honma. "A splendid release. Make no mistake: Honma is a superb player. The composer provides his imprimatur of her in the booklet, but hearing her one appreciates immediately how technically able and interpretatively alert she is. Very strongly recommended." - Guy Rickards (Gramophone)

The trio (Laura Bailie, Janet Larsson and Ruth Morley) are joined by percussionist Tim Williams on this disc of chamber music by four very different composers with individual takes on contemporary music. This is a unique and wonderful sound unlike any other in modern music.