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Metier

Darkness into Light

$18.99

Details

Composer
Edward Cowie
Artist
Laura Chislett, Alice Giles, Edward Cowie
Format
CD
Label
Metier
Released
May 15, 2026
Catalog #
MEX 77143
UPC
809730714320

About

In May 2026, Metier Records presents Edward Cowie's Darkness into Light, a stunning collection of works for harp and flute, performed with superb brilliance by Alice Giles and Laura Chislett, two of the world's leading soloists on these instruments. The album features two major works for solo flute and solo harp, a duo for both instruments specially written for Alice and Laura, and the title track, a fantastic three-way improvisation for flautist, harpist, and Edward Cowie himself on piano. Edward Cowie is one of the most notable voices in contemporary music and is considered by many to be the "leading contemporary composer of music that is related to the natural world" (Fanfare). A remarkable polymath, Cowie is renowned as a composer, visual artist, and natural scientist. La Primavera is a series of 'sound portraits' for solo flute, inspired by the nine figures in Botticelli's painting, one of the most beautiful, mysterious, and cryptic of all time. The painting radiates light and movement, and this is reflected in Cowie's music, which epitomises the limpid and hugely flexible sonorities and brilliance of the flute. The series of variants follow the figures in the painting from left to right, 'blown' into the music by Zephyrus, signifying the breath of the flautist. In the painting, most of the characters are either dancing or posed in dance-like actions, linking it to Harlequin Dances for solo harp, one of the 'satellite' works inspired by characters from Cowie's opera Commedia (1977). In Harlequin Dances, Cowie fuses music of the 16th century with some of the gestures and theatrical devices of the Commedia itself. The sorrowful emotions of unrequited love lead to Harlequin's rehearsal of dancing himself to death, but also to something hopeful and luminous. Cowie skilfully uses the resonances and wide range of timbre of the harp, and the closing few minutes are some of the most beautiful and transcendental music he has ever composed. Australian Water Music for flute and harp, is inspired by the ocean and fresh water lakes of Australia, and also Handel's Water Music, this being a recurrent theme for Edward Cowie, both as a composer and a visual artist. The tremendous velocities of flute and harp capture the speed of a stream of water and it's liquid sound, as well as bringing delicious richness and expressive qualities. Each instrument plays alone, but also thematic and motivic materials are resounded and re-worked in a dynamic dialogue between them. Darkness Into Light came from a discussion with Alice and Laura about their shared experience of darkness and light. The resulting work takes the form of a transcendence into some sort of divine light from impenetrable and engulfing darkness (of mind and spirit), all done in one continuous and shared exploration. Edward Cowie said of the experience: "Working with two giants of the musical world in this process was pure and undiluted pleasure".

Tracklist 13 tracks

  1. 1 Prelude: The Orange Garden I 01:27
    Track
    1
    Title
    Prelude: The Orange Garden I
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett
  2. 2 I. Zephyrus 02:14
    Track
    2
    Title
    I. Zephyrus
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett
  3. 3 II. Chloris 02:25
    Track
    3
    Title
    II. Chloris
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett
  4. 4 III. Flora 01:53
    Track
    4
    Title
    III. Flora
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett
  5. 5 IV. Venus 02:46
    Track
    5
    Title
    IV. Venus
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett
  6. 6 V. Cupid 01:37
    Track
    6
    Title
    V. Cupid
    Duration
    01:37
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett
  7. 7 VI. The Three Graces 02:53
    Track
    7
    Title
    VI. The Three Graces
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett
  8. 8 VII. Mercury 02:17
    Track
    8
    Title
    VII. Mercury
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett
  9. 9 Harlequin Dances 13:57
    Track
    9
    Title
    Harlequin Dances
    Duration
    13:57
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Alice Giles
  10. 10 I. Kiama Blowhole 05:43
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Kiama Blowhole
    Duration
    05:43
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett, Alice Giles
  11. 11 II. Black Swans at Dangar Lagoon 05:48
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Black Swans at Dangar Lagoon
    Duration
    05:48
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett, Alice Giles
  12. 12 III. Whales - Hervey Bay. Qld 06:11
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Whales - Hervey Bay. Qld
    Duration
    06:11
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett, Alice Giles
  13. 13 Darkness into Light 11:54
    Track
    13
    Title
    Darkness into Light
    Duration
    11:54
    Composer
    Edward Cowie
    Performer
    Laura Chislett, Alice Giles, Edward Cowie