The British composer David Braid, born in North Wales in 1970, studied in London, Oxford and Kraków. His music shows something of that double inheritance, bringing together the lyricism of such English composers as Dowland and the dynamism of the Polish school of Lutosławski.

This debut CD of his music presents chamber and instrumental works written between 2006 and 2011.

Steve Reich described the raga-like Morning for soprano and string quartet – the Pablo Neruda setting which opens this disc – as ‘beautifully done – very honest stuff’; the other works here encompass a divergent range of moods, from the melancholy of Infinite Reminiscence to the energetic drive of Music for Dancers.

Contents:
[1] Morning, for soprano and quartet, Op.3
Grace Davidson (soprano), Tippett Quartet

[2] Three Pieces for solo piano, Op.8
Sergei Podobedov (piano)

[5] Invention, for violin and piano, Op.11
Yuri Kalnits (violin), Sergei Podobedov (piano)

[6] Sonata for Quartet, Op.13
Peter Cigleris (clarinet)
Erato Piano Trio: Yuri Kalnits (violin), Julia Morneweg (cello), Sergei Podobedov (piano)

[7] Infinite Reminiscence, for two pianos, Op.4
Rossitza Stoycheva (piano), Mikako Hori (piano)

[8] Music for Dancers, for piano trio, Op.9
Erato Piano Trio: Yuri Kalnits (violin), Julia Morneweg (cello), John-Paul Ekins (piano)

[9] Postlude for solo piano, Op.10
Jelena Lakovic (piano)