This recording features Goehr's chamber music written between the years of 2002 and 2012, performed by the Nash Ensemble, the Pavel Haas Quartet (BBC New Generation Artists) and percussionist Colin Currie, all of whom have worked closely with the composer.
Since Brass nor Stone..., for percussion and string quartet, is inspired by Shakespeare's 65th Sonnet: its opening bars play on the literal meaning of the sonnet's first line, 'Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea', featuring gong, stone drum, log drum and rainstick....around Stravinsky takes Stravinsky's early Pastorale as a centrepiece, with Goehr's Prelude and Rondo performed on either side, while the motet-like structure of the Clarinet Quintet is influenced by a Josquin des Prez mass. The duo for clarinet and violin, manere, is based on a medieval plainchant, built into a series of rhapsodic variations; and the most recent piece on this recording – Largo Siciliano, for horn, violin and piano – uses the dotted rhythm of the Baroque dance, taken through a series of transformations which explore the timbres of the three instruments before returning to the original stately Siciliano.
Colin Currie percussion
Pavel Haas Quartet
Nash Ensemble:
David Alberman, Laura Samuel, Marianne Thorsen violin
Lawrence Power viola
Paul Watkins cello
Richard Watkins horn
Richard Hosford clarinet
Gareth Hulse oboe
Ursula Leveaux bassoon
Ian Brown piano
AUDIO
REVIEWS
The Sunday Times' Top 100 Best Albums of 2013
'Since Brass, Nor Stone … is written for the unlikely combination of percussion and string quartet (Colin Currie and the Pavel Haas Quartet), but brings it off brilliantly, creating an arresting sound-world of immense rhythmic variety and surprise' Guardian
‘These performances render the sound worlds of Goehr’s sources so consummately that his own twists and turns through them come through persuasively’ Gramophone
'Performances are responsive as might be expected from the Nash Ensemble and Colin Currie, and how good to hear the excellent Pavel Haas Quartet expanding its repertoire thus.' International Record Review
'This excellent CD from NMC [...] presents five broadly conventional chamber pieces all written between 2002 and 2012. Sensitivity, absorbingly understated technical prowess are as prominent as are gentleness, an unstudied grace and precision. If you're new to Goehr, this CD makes an excellent introduction.' Classical Net
FUNDERS
Produced in association with BBC Radio 3 & BBC New Generation Artists
NMC Recordings is very grateful to the Music Faculty, University of Cambridge for its generous support of this recording.
RECORDING CREDITS
Since Brass, nor Stone… was commissioned by the BBC and the Royal Philharmonic Society for the New Generation Artists scheme, and first performed by the Pavel Haas Quartet and Colin Currie in July 2008.
The Quintet for Clarinet and Strings and …around Stravinsky were recorded at St Michael's Church, Highgate, London on 28-29 May 2012. Largo Siciliano and manere were recorded at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge on 27-28 March 2013.
Recording Producer/ Engineer DAVID LEFEBER
Since Brass, nor Stone… was recorded at Studio 2, BBC Maida Vale, London on 1 May 2010, and first broadcast by BBC Radio 3 on 22 October 2011 on Hear and Now.
Recording Engineer MICHAEL BACON
Recording Producer ELIZABETH ARNO
Digital Editing & Mastering DAVID LEFEBER
Since Brass, nor Stone… (P) BBC 2013
Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, …around Stravinsky, manere and Largo Siciliano
(P) 2013 NMC Recordings Ltd
© 2013 NMC Recordings Ltd
Catalogue number: NMC D187
Release Date: 9 September 2013