Rodney Bennett - Orchestral Works Volume 1 | Chandos CHAN10389

Rodney Bennett - Orchestral Works Volume 1

£14.49

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Label: Chandos

Cat No: CHAN10389

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Release Date: 30th October 2006

Contents

Works

Bennett, Richard Rodney

Partita
Reflections on a Scottish Folk Song
Reflections on a Sixteenth-Century Tune
Songs before Sleep (Baritone and Strings)

Artists

Jonathan Lemalu (baritone)
Paul Watkins (cello)
Philharmonia Orchestra

Conductor

Richard Hickox

Works

Bennett, Richard Rodney

Partita
Reflections on a Scottish Folk Song
Reflections on a Sixteenth-Century Tune
Songs before Sleep (Baritone and Strings)

Artists

Jonathan Lemalu (baritone)
Paul Watkins (cello)
Philharmonia Orchestra

Conductor

Richard Hickox

About

Richard Rodney Bennett is a major figure in world music of the past five decades and his seventieth birthday in 2006 led to a revival of interest in his works. It is all highly appealing, melodic music.

This disc includes two world premiere recordings: Reflections on a Sixteenth Century Tune and the premiere recording of Reflections on a Scottish Folk Song composed for Her Majesty the Queen Mother, commissioned by Peter Moores Foundation on behalf of HRH the Prince of Wales. The Prince wrote: "I am delighted to have played a part in the creation of a new work from Sir Richard Rodney Bennett in memory of my beloved grandmother. Sir Richard is one of the UK's leading composers which make him an obvious choice for this very special commission.”
Reflecting the Queen Mother’s Scottish background, Bennett uses a Scottish folk song as the basis for the work. ‘Ca’ the yowes to the knowes’ is presented at the start of the work, then treated freely in a continuous sequence of self-contained musical paragraphs, with virtuosic solo part writing including two short cadenzas, for the cellist. These passages are performed with authority by Paul Watkins, one of Britain’s foremost cellists. This beautiful orchestral string writing together with rhapsodic writing for the soloist is a fitting memory of the Queen Mother.
Coupling this premiere are three other works of a melodic approachable style, with Bennett’s characteristic harmonic and rhythmic fluidity. Reflections on a Sixteenth Century Tune uses a theme adapted from the top line of a three-part chanson by Josquin des Pres. Its shapely curves and modal inflections evoke affinities with two earlier British works for strings, Vaughan Williams’s Tallis Fantasia and Tippett’s Concerto for Double Strings Orchestra.
Partita symbolizes Bennett’s move to introduce elements of his more approachable film style, and of jazz idioms, into his concert music. The programme concludes with Bennett’s reworking of his cycle Songs before Sleep for baritone and strings which once again demonstrates his masterly handling of the string orchestra.
This is a highly engaging disc which should be enjoyed by many, masterly conducted by Richard Hickox.

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