SOUND CENSUS: 30th Birthday Celebration
Joanna Bailie: Axis
Simon Bainbridge: Two Trios
Martin Butler: Hunding
Philip Cashian: Concertantes
Edward Cowie: Magma Psalm
Peter Maxwell Davies: Judas Mercator
Joe Duddell: Tree Carving
Brian Elias: Impromptu
Christopher Fox: A Study in Daylight
Dai Fujikura: Inkling
Anthony Gilbert: Doubles
Morgan Hayes: Shatner’s Bassoon
Simon Holt: disparate; disparate dos
Vic Hoyland: Token
Colin Matthews: Scherzetto
Melinda Maxwell: Singla Rock
Bayan Northcott: Doubles All Round
Anthony Payne: From a Mouthful of Air
Naomi Pinnock: Within
Philip Venables: Fight Music
James Weeks: The Peckham Harmony
Simon Wills: …without words
“It is typical of Endymion, that marvellous champion of new (and old) chamber music, that the ensmeble’s 30th birthday prompted no retrospective but a look to the future. …it almost goes without saying that the Endymion players are first-rate advocates for these works…there is a diversity of approach from composers young and not so young here, suggesting British music is in a state of vibrant health.” ★★★★★ BBC Music Magazine
“One piece that stands out is Joanna Bailie’s Axis, music with a Feldmanesque combination of faintness and resolution. … Also exceptional, and altogether different, is Simon Holt’s Disparate… Yet another treat is Morgan Hayes’s Shatner’s Bassoon. … The playing is lively and beautiful throughout.” Paul Griffiths
ELISABETH LUTYENS
CHAMBER & CHORAL MUSIC
ENDYMION and EXAUDI (dir. James Weeks)
Endymion: Présages for solo oboe; Wind Trio;
String Trio; Fantasie Trio
Exaudi: Motet (Excerpta Tractati Logico-Philosphici);
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis; Verses of Love; The Country of the Stars
NMC Recordings NMC D124
PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ SOUND ★★★★★
The singers and players of Exaudi and Endymion turn in eloquent, dedicated performances, in first rate sound , making every note – as Lutyens intended – count. BBC Music Magazine
“This mixture of a cappella choral and instrumental works from the 1950s and 1960s is a timely and beautifully performed tribute” The Guardian
“…the tautly mournful Présages, for oboe, finely delivered by Melinda Maxwell… The 1963 Wind Trio is a fascinating set of miniatures, but the 1964 String Trio takes terseness to heights of brilliance.” The Sunday Times
THOMAS DUNHILL
CHAMBER MUSIC
Quintet in F minor ‘Nitor in adversam’, Op.6
Phantasy Trio, Op.36
Quintet in E flat, Op.3
Dutton Vocalion CD 7152
“This is a fine disc indeed of some magnificent chamber music, beautifully performed by the gifted members of the Endymion Ensemble.” International Record Review
“The performances are excellent, spontaneous,committed and always at home in the locality of the writing. Excellent recording, too. If you love music that breathes the English countrside, you will find it in Dunhill’s chamber music; the Endymion players create just this evocation” Gramophone
“This recording by the ensemble Endymion is a gem” Horn Call Magazine
EDWIN YORK BOWEN
WIND SONATAS
Sonata for Flute and Piano;
Sonata for Oboe and Piano;
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano;
Sonata for Horn and Piano
Dutton Vocalion CDLX7129
“Immaculate readings of four approachable works that never outstay their welcome. …The Endymion Ensemble are both assured and pliant purveyors of this engaging music. Nor can there be any reservations about Tony Faulkner’s beautifully judged sound and balance. Unhesitatingly recommended.” Gramophone
EDWIN YORK BOWEN
SONATAS
Sonata for Cello and Piano in A
Suite for Violin and Piano
Sonata for Violin and Piano in E minor
Dutton CD7120
EDWIN YORK BOWEN
MUSIC FOR HORN AND STRINGS
Quintet for horn & string quartet in C minor, Op. 85
Rhapsody Trio for violin, cello & piano in A minor, Op. 80
Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 118
Dutton CD7115
EDMUND RUBBRA
PIANO TRIOS & OBOE MUSIC
Piano Trio in One Movement op.68
Piano Trio No.2 op.138
Suite The Buddha op.64 (arr Adrian Cruft)
Meditazioni sopra Cœurs désolés op.67
Phantasy for Two Violins & Piano op.16
Sonata in C for Oboe & Piano op.100
Duo for Cor Anglais & Piano op.156
Dutton Vocalion CD 7152
“A peach of a disc.” Gramophone
“An outstanding issue.” Record Review
Recommended in The Good C.D. Guide
LENNOX BERKELEY
CHAMBER MUSIC FOR WINDS AND STRINGS
Concertino, for flute, violin, cello & piano, Op. 49;
Introduction & Allegro, for Violin, Op. 24;
Duo for cello & piano, Op. 81/1;
Oboe Quartet, Op. 70;
Elegy, for violin & piano, Op. 33/2;
Toccata, for violin & piano, Op. 33/3;
Petite Suite, for oboe & cello;
Sextet, for clarinet, horn & string quartet, Op. 47
Dutton Vocalion CD 7100
“An auspicious start to the Endymion’s planned series of British music, with incisive, sympathetic performances of a varied sequence of solo and ensemble pieces by Lennox Berkeley.” BBC Music Magazine
“Fine new recordings of Lennox Berkeley’s elegantly fashioned music…the Endymion Ensemble do it proud.” Penguin Guide to Compact Discs
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Noye’s Fludde
Les Illuminations
NEW FINNISH MUSIC
Magnus Lindberg – …de Tartuffe, je crois;
Jouni Kaipainen – Trio I, Op. 21;
Eero Hämeenniemi – Efisaes;
Kaija Saariaho – Lichtbogen
Finlandia Records FACD 361
DOHNÁNYI & FIBICH
Ernst von Dohnányi – Sextet in C major, Op 37;
Zdenek Fibich – Quintet in D major, Op 42
ASV- 943 (CD)
★★★★★ – Classic CD
“…Both these works break the mould of conventional piano chamber music with scoring that mixes string and wind instruments. The resultant colouring is so beautiful and distinctive that one wonders why so few other composers explored such possibilities…This really is an outstanding chamber music disc and a truly worthy addition to the catalogue.” Classic CD
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Symphonies of Wind Instruments;
Dumbarton Oaks;
Octet;
Ebony Concerto
EMI: CDC 7 49786 2