Release date: 29 September 2023
Melinda Maxwell is a composer and oboist who creates “fascinatingly complex” music (Artsdesk) that blends improvisation and composition into a unique musical language. Her improvisations have been described by Ivan Hewett as having “the poise and sense of exact timing one expects from a composed piece”. In this new release Maxwell plays the aulos, or double pipe; probably the first known oboe in the world and the most popular wind instrument of the Ancient Greek and Roman civilisations.
Janus was commissioned by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and premiered at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. The eight-piece group performing this 36-minute epic is a mix of classical players and improvisers, and the piece moves seamlessly between composed and improvised passages. The music is distinguished by a vast range of colours and textures from the gentle sound of two auloi to the full sound of the trumpet. The release concludes with Hecate Triptych, a selection of trio improvisations for aulos, bass and percussion. These are live improvisations showing another angle of Maxwell’s highly accomplished music making.
Melinda Maxwell has performed as oboe soloist at many national and international festivals and is frequently heard on BBC Radio 3. In addition to her work as a chamber musician and recitalist, Maxwell is principal oboe of the Endymion Ensemble and the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and also performs regularly as principal with London Sinfonietta.
Melinda Maxwell oboe / aulos / naadaswaram
Callum Armstrong aulos
Oliver Janes clarinet
Percy Pursglove trumpet
Julian Warburton percussion
Liam Halloran percussion
James Dooley electronics
Sebastiano Dessanay double bass
Recorded live at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on Saturday 19th November 2022. Engineered and mixed by Simon Hall.
Release date: 29 September 2023
Catalogue no: BRC020
Melinda Maxwell is a composer and oboist who creates “fascinatingly complex” music (Artsdesk) that blends improvisation and composition into a unique musical language. Her improvisations have been described by Ivan Hewett as having “the poise and sense of exact timing one expects from a composed piece”. In this new release Maxwell plays the aulos, or double pipe; probably the first known oboe in the world and the most popular wind instrument of the Ancient Greek and Roman civilisations.
Janus was commissioned by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and premiered at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. The eight-piece group performing this 36-minute epic is a mix of classical players and improvisers, and the piece moves seamlessly between composed and improvised passages. The music is distinguished by a vast range of colours and textures from the gentle sound of two auloi to the full sound of the trumpet. The release concludes with Hecate Triptych, a selection of trio improvisations for aulos, bass and percussion. These are live improvisations showing another angle of Maxwell’s highly accomplished music making.
Melinda Maxwell has performed as oboe soloist at many national and international festivals and is frequently heard on BBC Radio 3. In addition to her work as a chamber musician and recitalist, Maxwell is principal oboe of the Endymion Ensemble and the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and also performs regularly as principal with London Sinfonietta.
Melinda Maxwell oboe / aulos / naadaswaram
Callum Armstrong aulos
Oliver Janes clarinet
Percy Pursglove trumpet
Julian Warburton percussion
Liam Halloran percussion
James Dooley electronics
Sebastiano Dessanay double bass
AUDIO
REVIEWS
"Featuring a mix of classical and jazz musicians, it alternates passages of densely chromatic composed music with improvisation, the aim being to explore the concept of duality." Financial Times
"a curious mixture of contemporary trends merging in jazz, while cultivating an underlying complexity in the freer moments," Crescendo Magazine
FUNDERS
Janus was commissioned by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group with the support of Arts Council England and BCMG’s Sound Investment scheme.
RECORDING CREDITS
Recorded live at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on Saturday 19th November 2022. Engineered and mixed by Simon Hall.
Release date: 29 September 2023
Catalogue no: BRC020