Classical Editor: Rob Barnett
 

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Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb-international.com



MACMILLAN, James.
Tryst for orchestra
Adam's Rib for brass quintet
(world premiere)
They saw that the stone had been rolled away
I (A Meditation on Iona)
(world premiere recording).
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Joseph Swenson
 BIS-CD-1019 (DDD) [58.43]
Crotchet
 Amazon UK  Amazon USA

Tryst has already become a contemporary classic although The Confession of Isobel Gowdie is MacMillian's finest piece. In Tryst, the composer shows again his excellent gift for orchestral sonority and how he can successfully bridge the gap between the traditional and the modern. Tryst is in five sections which seem to embrace all aspects of William Soutar's love poem on which it is based. In turn, the music is vibrant, intimate, melancholy and brutal and yet always colourful and fascinating. It is a compelling work here given a convincing performance. Anything that follows this is an anticlimax

Adam's Rib is a work lacking coherence for this musician and stunted by the absence of a natural flow. The music does not seem to gel and therefore gives the impression of uncertainty.

The composer's religious faith is behind They saw that the stone had been rolled away. It is a powerful and evocative piece with pealing bells and a real sense of atmosphere.

I is another good piece. Stark it may be but powerful it certainly is. The introduction of the steel drums is a tremendous moment. In the eight sections we have depicted primitive Christianity, the desolation of Iona and when the thundersheet is introduced we may be reminded of the awesomeness of God.

The recording is good and the performances committed.

Reviewer

David Wright

Performances

Recording


Reviewer

David Wright

Performances

Recording


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