Harrison Birtwistle's "Birtwistle: Chamber Music," released on ECM New Series in 2014, is a captivating exploration of chamber music that spans a little over an hour. This album showcases Birtwistle's distinctive compositional style, blending intricate textures and poetic inspirations. The centerpiece of the album is a series of settings of Lorine Niedecker's poetry for soprano and cello, demonstrating Birtwistle's ability to translate the essence of words into music. These pieces, including "Always North of Him," "I Was the Solitary Plover," and "As I Shook Dust from My Father's Door," are interspersed with the "Bogenstrich" cycle, a meditation on a poem by Rilke. This cycle, featuring "Liebes-Lied 1," "Lied ohne Worte," and other movements, reveals Birtwistle's skill in crafting deeply expressive and contemplative music. The album also includes the "Piano Trio," a work that highlights Birtwistle's mastery of chamber music forms. Throughout the album, Birtwistle's compositions are marked by their intellectual depth, emotional resonance, and technical brilliance, making it a compelling listen for fans of contemporary classical music.
Tracks
3 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: Always North of HimHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
3 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: I Was the Solitary PloverHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
3 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: As I Shook Dust from My Father's DoorHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
Piano TrioHarrison Birtwistle, Lisa Batiashvili, Adrian Brendel, Till Fellner
Bogenstrich (Meditations on a Poem of Rilke): Liebes-Lied 1Harrison Birtwistle, Till Fellner, Roderick Williams
Bogenstrich (Meditations on a Poem of Rilke): Lied ohne WorteHarrison Birtwistle, Till Fellner, Adrian Brendel
Bogenstrich (Meditations on a Poem of Rilke): VariationenHarrison Birtwistle, Till Fellner, Adrian Brendel
Bogenstrich (Meditations on a Poem of Rilke): Wie eine FugeHarrison Birtwistle, Till Fellner, Adrian Brendel
Bogenstrich (Meditations on a Poem of Rilke): Liebes-Lied 2Harrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Roderick Williams
9 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: There's a Better ShineHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
9 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: My Friend TreeHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
9 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: Along the RiverHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
9 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: Hear Where Her Snowgrave IsHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
9 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: How the White GullsHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
9 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: My LifeHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
9 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: PaulHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
9 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: O Late FallHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
9 Settings of Lorine Niedecker for Soprano and Cello: Sleep's DreamHarrison Birtwistle, Adrian Brendel, Amy Freston
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