Presteigne Premieres: New Music for String Orchestra - RES10279

Presteigne Premieres: New Music for String Orchestra

£12.99
Total playing time [80:37]

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Amy Dickson (saxophone)
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano)
Katherine Baker (flute)
Suzy Willison-Kawalec (harp)
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
George Vass (conductor)

Founded in 1982 in the former county town of Radnorshire, the Presteigne Festival has become a significant part of the Welsh cultural calendar and is internationally renowned for its commissioning of new work, support of living composers and with a long tradition for the encouragement of young artists.

The festival’s orchestra, conducted by Artistic Director George Vass, explores a selection of the many new works premiered by the festival in this volume of recent music for string orchestra, including: the collaborative Variations on ‘Lovely Joan’ for strings (composers Thomas Hyde, Adrian Williams, David Matthews, Michael Berkeley, Christopher Gunning, Huw Watkins, Sally Beamish and Matthew Taylor); Martin Butler’s Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Strings performed by Amy Dickson; Joe Duddell’s Mnemonic for flute, harp and strings; and Beginnings (Three Early Songs), Op. 54, and Divertimento, Op. 51, by Hugh Wood.

Album Booklet (PDF)

Tracklist

Variations on ‘Lovely Joan’
Thomas Hyde (b.1978)
1. Prelude – Tema – Tema elaborata

David Matthews (b.1943)
2. Variation I: Molto vivace

Adrian Williams (b.1956)
3. Variation II: Adagio molto

Michael Berkeley (b.1948)
4. Variation III: A Frolic for Lovely Joan

Christopher Gunning (b.1944)
5. Variation IV: Andante

Huw Watkins (b.1976)
6. Variation V: Allegretto

Sally Beamish (b.1956)
7. Variation VI: Adagio; very still

Matthew Taylor (b.1964)
8. Variation VII: Finale: Prestissimo

Martin Butler (b.1960)
Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Strings
9. Lively, but heavy and grounded –
10. Cantilena –
11. Presto

Hugh Wood (b.1932)
Beginnings: Three Early Songs, for mezzo-soprano and string orchestra, Op. 54
12. Tom O’Bedlam’s Song
13. Why East Wind chills
14. O Unicorn among the Cedars

Joe Duddell (b.1972)
15. Mnemonic, for flute, harp and
string orchestra

Hugh Wood
Divertimento, Op. 51
16. Maestoso – Andante, calmo ma con moto
17. Adagietto
18. Allegro molto, feroce

“

‘Beginnings, his late reworking of three early songs, exquisitely handled by the mezzo Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, and Divertimento. There are striking essays by Martin Butler and Joe Duddell, and a most felicitous set of variations on the folk song Lovely Joan.’

- The Sunday Times

‘The playing of the Presteigne Festival Orchestra lacks nothing in commitment, directed by Vass with unfussy attention to detail.’
Gramophone

‘Beginnings, his late reworking of three early songs, exquisitely handled by the mezzo Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, and Divertimento. There are striking essays by Martin Butler and Joe Duddell, and a most felicitous set of variations on the folk song Lovely Joan.’
The Sunday Times

‘This is a lovely collection of new music, all written for the Presteigne Festival and all premiere recordings played by the Festival’s resident orchestra. All linked by the strings there is still much variety with songs and works with different soloists including saxophone and flute.’
Lark Reviews

Credits
© 2021 Resonus Limited
Ⓟ 2021 Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts Ltd
Catalogue No. RES10279
Producer, engineer & editor: Adam Binks
EAN: 5060262793046
Cover image: Presteigne landscape by Alex Ramsay – www.alexramsayphotography.net
Release date: 28 May 2021