Phoenix Mass, written in 1965, was originally intended for school choir, but rapidly turned into a much bigger and more demanding work, incorporating English as well as Latin Mass texts (notably in the Gloria) and mixing spoken phrases with sung; it's scored, similarly to Stravinsky's Mass, for chorus and brass ensemble. Two other early works are The World's Winter - a chilling Tennyson setting written for soprano Jane Manning and the Nash Ensemble - and Paean, a forceful and virtuosic piano work in three sections. These three works are accompanied by Payne's 2006 Horn Trio, commissioned to celebrate a diamond wedding.
Phoenix Mass, Paean and The World’s Winter have been transferred from LP in the absence of the original masters. The Horn Trio was recorded live for BBC Radio 3
BBC Singers
The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble / John Poole conductor
Susan Bradshaw piano
Jane Manning soprano
The Nash Ensemble / Lionel Friend conductor
Jane’s Minstrels
AUDIO
REVIEWS
‘Enjoyable sequence of mostly early works… Phoenix Mass, heard in a vivid 1977 recording with the Phillip Jones Brass Ensemble. Paean, for piano (Susan Bradshaw), is fiercely constructivist yet compellingly eloquent’ Sunday Times
'Riveting ... a fascinating collection' BBC Music Magazine
‘Il suo linguaggio musicale appare come un tentativo di gettare un pontre tra I compositori inglesi del primo Novecento (Ralph Vaughan Williams, Frederick Delius, Edward Elgar, Frank Bridge) e l’avanguardia musicale del secondo dopoguerra’ Golem Informazione
'NMC have done their usual elite job on this CD ... a valuable entry in Payne's discography.' Musicweb International
FUNDERS
Produced in association with BBC Radio 3
Supported by the Sosland Foundation
Phoenix Mass, Paean and The World’s Winter were recorded with financial assistance from Arts Council England
RECORDING CREDITS
Phoenix Mass, Paean and The World’s Winter
Producer: JAMES BURNETT for BBC Transcription Service
Co-ordinator: SYLVIA CARTNER
The Horn Trio was recorded for BBC Radio 3 at the Purcell Room, South Bank Centre, London on 25 February 2010.
Recording Producer: DAVID PAPP
Digital Editing/ Mastering: ANDREW HALLIFAX
Horn Trio (p) 2010 BBC
(p) & © 2013 NMC Recordings Ltd
Catalogue number: NMC D159
Release Date: 6 May 2013