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Although Carl Friedrich Abel (1723–87) is known as one of the last and greatest virtuosos of the viola da gamba, his instrument declined in popularity towards the end of the 18th century, leading him to compose for other instruments; some of his most successful results can be heard in the music recorded on this disc. Abel’s ability to compose particularly fine music for the flute can be traced back his time working at the Dresden court, which possessed one of the greatest orchestras of the era .Among the musicians working there were the flautists Buffardin and Quantz - the latter a prolific composer of flute concertos and sonatas for Frederick the Great, a notable patron of the arts. It is likely that Abel himself was a skilled flautist, and the instrument’s popularity at the time created a great demand for new compositions. The works featured on this disc are less well known than Abel’s music for viola da gamba, and are performed less often. However, they provide an insight into 18th century music’s transition from Baroque complexity to the melody-driven Classical style, and are illuminated through performances by flute soloist Georgia Browne and the ensemble Nordic Affect, specialists in historical performance.

Premiered in 1841, Adolphe Adam’s Giselle stands as one of the most important French dance creations – a rare masterpiece of lyric theatre that is particularly renowned for the extraordinary beauty of its music. This compilation is dedicated to highlights of the fantastical ballet, performed by one of music’s most iconic conductor-orchestra partnerships: Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Set in Rhineland in the Middle Ages, the work takes its name from the peasant girl Giselle, who falls in love with a young Duke as he wanders the German landscape.

Complications arise when we discover that Albrecht, who has passed himself off as a simple lad to Giselle, is already engaged, and after his fiancée Bathilde arrives to confirm this, the peasant girl dances herself into madness and dies. In the second act, the scene shifts to the spirit world of the Wilis – vengeful ghosts of brides who, jilted before their wedding day, prey on young men by dancing them to their death. Although Hilarion, a long-standing admirer of Giselle, falls victim to their enchantment, Giselle – now herself a Wili – uses her love for Albrecht to protect him from the same fate.

Realising that she has saved him,Albrecht breaks down into tears at her grave. Adam was a prolific ballet writer at the height of his powers when composing Giselle, and his innate feeling for dramatic progression is perfectly mirrored in the work’s wealth of orchestral colour – which ranges from brilliantly sparkling to darkly dynamic, according to the developments on stage. Paying close attention to the ballet’s individual instrumental sonorities, Marriner brilliantly evokes the dichotomy between everyday life and the otherworldliness of the second act to deliver a first-rate performance of this iconic work.

This unusual collection is dedicated to a very popular style: minimalist music. The style has evolved from austere, almost strict repetition to a more varied and free approach to material and technique.

The set includes works for solo piano by most of the famous ‘minimalist’ composers covering three generations from Cage, through Riley and Glass to Adams and Nyman.

In his short life (1911-40) Jehan Alain composed some of the most fresh and original music for organ. The influences of composers such as Duruflé and Dutilleux mingle with Gregorian Chant and jazz and the exotic – the latter Alain discovered at the Colonial Exposition of 1931. Interestingly, many of the organ works were conceived for other forms – orchestra in the case of the Trois Dances, String Quintet for the Suite for Organ: Introduction and Variations for example. Many of the works started life as piano pieces, or for small chamber ensemble.

This 3CD set contains recordings made in the 1930s of the composer performing his Les Fetes de l’annee Israelite and Synagogue Music – fascinating historical documents.

Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909), along with de Falla and Granados, is considered to be not only one of Spain’s leading composers, but one of the founding fathers of modern Spanish music. He began his musical career as a virtuoso pianist, producing a concerto that shows the influence of Liszt, and many short brilliant display pieces.

He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory, and looked set to become a pianist composer in the central European tradition – until he met and studied with Felipe Pedrell (1841 -1922) who awakened in him an interest in traditional Spanish music.

Albeniz combined his mastery of classical form gained from his studies in Germany with the colour and honest simplicity of folk music to create his unique form of what can be considered very high quality salon music for guitar.

The two works on this CD consist in their original form of eight and five movements respectively of characteristic, picturesque miniatures of high skill and great charm. It has become the norm for guitarists to create their own ‘favourite’ selection from such suites to form their own arrangement, which is what Giuseppe Feola has done.

Young Italian composer Giovanni Albini has an impressive résumé. After gaining full marks in his Composition degree at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan, he later obtained a Masters degree, as well as a BS and MS in Mathematics, and a Diploma in Classical Guitar. Much of his work has been for digital media and his theoretical research explores the relationship between mathematical music theory and composition.

This collection showcases a variety of works from Albini's oeuvre, many of which have been praised for their mathematical significance. Strong links to Western Classical music can be heard in each of these pieces, but mathematical theory is also employed in a variety of ways:

Una teoria della Prossimità is completely determined by mathematics, from its structure to its continuity and notation, and Estatica is formed around the single tone of E and expanded outwards. The collection also features three of the string quartets; with String Quartet No.5 -- a rapidly changing piece constantly underpinned by the G minor scale -- followed by the strict motion of No.6 and the innovative No.7, which is based on Albini's own specific system of triadic cycles.

This disc boasts a wealth of performers, including the acclaimed string ensemble Le Cameriste Ambrosiane conducted by Dario Garegnani, Quartetto Indaco and Duo Bonfanti, as well as soloists Fabio Mureddu, Davide Alogna and Giorgio Mirto.

New recording, recorded in Milan and Grugliasco, Turin, in 2012.

Giovanni Albini (born 1982) is one of the most interesting composers of the young Italian generation. His music, firmly rooted in Western musical tradition, explores the endless possibilities of developing small musical elements (a scale, a triad) into a vast musical edifice, held together by the unifying laws of mathematics.

Excellent, dedicated performances by young Italian musicians, closely working together with the composer of this fascinating music.

Contains notes on the music as well as biographies of each ensemble/soloist.