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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Holst - The Planets
The Hallé Orchestra, Mark Elder When Gustav Holst composed his celebrated suite 'The Planets' during the First World War, the solar system was bounded by the orbit of Neptune ('The Mystic' in Holst's astrological subtitle)—which Holst naturally placed at the end of his masterpiece. It was not until fifteen years later that American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, trying to find the reason for peculiarities in Neptune's orbit, realised that there was another planet further out whose gravitational pull was influencing it. And so was discovered the dark, remote and mysterious world of Pluto, named after the king of the Underworld. The discovery was made but three years before Holst's death, but he never expressed any intention of adding it to his by-then famous work. Sixty years later, invited to do so by The Hallé Orchestra, the challenge was taken up by Colin Matthews whose 'Pluto—The Renewer' emerges eerily from the disappearing final bars of 'Neptune'. This was the first recording of Holst's 'Planets' with the additional planet, sumptuously recorded by Tony Faulkner in Manchester's Bridgewater Hall. The CD also includes Holst's late Lyric Movement for viola and chamber orchestra, written in 1933, the year before the composer died. Originally issued on CDA67270 “Wonderfully imaginative [Pluto] – a lightning-fast scherzo that grows out of the dying moments of a preceding Neptune and finally evaporates as mysteriously as it started” The Guardian “Holstians will be grateful for a beautiful account of the melancholy Lyric Movement, but for those mainly interested in The Planets this has few rivals as a performance” International Record Review “Colin Matthews has finally completed the picture with Pluto, and hearing it on this fine recording alongside Holst’s original, the scale of his achievement becomes clear. Fast, pacy and light like the solar winds of the planet itself, Colin Matthews has enhanced our enjoyment and appreciation of Holst’s original work, beautifully and movingly played here by the Hallé Orchestra under Mark Elder” Classic FM Magazine “Pluto is an exhilaratingly fleet essay, laced with Holstian allusions. Elder also presides over a perceptive account of the haunting 1933 Lyric Movement … Here’s to more high-quality productions from this new partnership” Gramophone Magazine “[Matthews] succeeds miraculously in evoking Holst’s spirit while remaining genuine Matthews. This disc is a highly desirable addition to anyone’s collection” BBC Music Magazine | 
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Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Owain Arwel Hughes | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Halle Orchestra, Mark Elder | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Matthews - Horn Concerto & Alphabicycle Order
World Premiere Recordings “Alphabicycle Order might not be Matthews’s most serious work but it is an extraordinarily accomplished one. Brilliantly diverse in its musical language. Alphabicycle Order is a textbook example of how to write for diverse forces in a meaningful, inclusive yet unmistakably individual way” Gig Magazine |
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| |  | Horizon 1 - Premieres 2007Recorded 18 January 2007 (Matthews), 21 and 22 June 2007(Eggert);
18 and 19 September 2007 (Verbeij and Glanert) all at Concertgebouw Amsterdam
Jörgen van Rijen (trombone) Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Markus Stenz The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is famous throughout the world for its interpretations of works in the Classical symphonic repertoire. But, as with its legendary performances of the works of Mahler and Strauss at the beginning of the 20th-century, the orchestra is also open to new developments in contemporary music. Exploring new horizons and sound spaces, the orchestra continues to foster relationships with contemporary composers employing unconventional working methods. Compositions by Theo Verbey, Moritz Eggert, Colin Matthews and Detlev Glanert, the first three having been written specially for the RCO, attest to the orchestra's unrivalled sound inspire tour-de-force performances by the musicians. A supporter and enthusiastic advocate of such orchestral exploits, conductor Markus Stenz leaves his own unmistakable stamp on these live recordings. Jörgen van Rijen was featured in One to Watch in Gramophone, May issue.A Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award winner, the Verbeij concerto was commisioned by the RCO for him, the youngest member when he joined as principal trombone in 1997. “Colin Matthews's Turning Point that will attract the most attention, though, for it's a major achievement, a 20-minute single movement that seems to change direction completely around its half-way mark, transforming from a lightning fast scherzo to a glacially slow unfolding that reaches a catastrophic climax.” Andrew Clements, The Guardian, 5th September 2008 *** “Modern works superbly delivered by the RCO…” Gramophone Magazine, November 2008 |
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| |  | Colin Matthews - Divertimenti
Brindisi Quartet, Schubert Ensemble, Haffner Wind Ensemble & Divertimenti Ensemble, Oliver Knussen Divertimento was commissioned by and dedicated to Peter Pears for the 1982 Aldeburgh Festival. Colin Matthews is active as administrator of the Holst Foundation, chair of the Britten Estate, and trustee of the Britten-Pears Foundation. He is also founder and Executive Producer of NMC Recordings. NMC’s Ancora series is devoted to the reissue of important recordings of contemporary British works which have been deleted by other record labels. The Brindisi Quartet’s recording of Matthews’ String Quartet No.2 is previously unreleased. Colin Matthews worked with Benjamin Britten in Aldeburgh in the 1970s. Colin is currently writing a violin concerto for Leila Josefowicz and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. “These reissues from other labels, plus a first release, make permanently available five of Matthews’s works from the 1980s. The Divertimento for Double String Quartet, performed by Divertimenti Ensemble under Oliver Knussen, intriguingly takes off from the opening chords of Strauss’s Metamorphosen. The brief Triptych, for piano quintet (Schubert Ensemble), exploits the double bass’s always slightly eerie melodic capacity and ends most unexpectedly. Melinda Maxwell is an eloquent soloist with Divertimenti in the one-movement Oboe Quartet No 1. The new release is of the brilliant, scurrying, elusive String Quartet No 2, in a 1996 recording of the revised version by the Brindisi Quartet.” Sunday Times, 22nd June 2008 *** “In this collection of Colin Matthews' chamber music from the 1980s, the most important item is the newcomer, a 1996 recording of Matthews' Second String Quartet. Completed in 1989, it's a taut, compelling piece that brings together all the ingredients of Matthews' musical language at the time and weaves them into a rigorous discourse that has an almost Elliott Carter-like energy and intensity.” The Guardian, 4th July 2008 **** “The performances are exemplary - most of them from the ensembles involved in the works' creation - and although some of the earlier recordings have had to be transferred from LP rather than master tape, the sound is clean and focused throughout.” The Telegraph, 26th July 2008 “These chamber works from the 1980s show Colin Matthews at his most buoyant, cresting the waves with exuberance and flair. His own voice is unmistakable and, in these pieces, all the more appealing for the compactness and directness of the way the music speaks.” Gramophone Magazine, November 2008 |
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| |  | One Minute Wonders
Anderson, Julian: | Old Bells | Archbold: | Coronae | Armstrong, Tom: | Melody | Cashian: | Journey after Rain | Clark, J O: | on nicola's bell it says 6.six | Davies, T: | Last Minute | Donnelly: | Boss | Finnissy: | One Minute Wonder | Forbes: | Toccata | Goss, S: | invisible starfall | Grange: | Prelude: In Memoriam Karlin Field | Harrison, B: | Flowers Fall | Harrison, S: | Sleeping with the Fishes | Hayes, M: | Strides (1) | Hesketh: | Epigram | Hooper: | University Challenge | Ingoldsby: | A Little Moment | John, A: | Disillusioned | Keeley: | Chip Revisited | King, M: | Sonatas | Luck: | Attraction / Repulsion | Martin, P N: | Chime | Matthews, C: | 60 Second Waltz | McPherson: | Se voce puder dizer algo em um minuto e ele worth dizer | Moore, A: | Gudrun's Waltz | Norman, K: | Thumbs Up | Reeves: | Praeludium from Notturno dalle Flamme del'Inferno | Sambell: | crossing the M4 (as a spider) | Samuel, R: | Gaslight Square I | Sansom, M: | On Remembrance | Sierra, A: | Titmouse | Skempton: | Stroking the Keys | Smith, D: | Korean Waltz | Toovey: | Morag | Trainer: | Flip | Woolrich: | One Moment More |
This collection of 36 piano miniatures demonstrates how much energy, vitality and diversity there is in composition within the UK. A very restrictive brief has produced an astonishing flowering of individuality and creativity from a huge range of composers. Some of the composers are well-known international figures and some are students, but they have all responded with astounding imagination and invention | | | Unfortunately, as of December 3rd 2008 the UK distributor for this label is in administration. Although an agreement has already been signed with a new distributor, we expect some delay before stock is available again. You may order this item now but please be aware that it may be early 2009 before we are able to despatch it. |
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| |  | SnapshotsFiftieth birthday tributes for Oliver Knussen
London Sinfonietta, George Benjamin All works were recorded live at Oliver Knussen's 50th birthday concerts on 12 June 2002 by BBC Radio 3. '…a joyful disc, ebulliently performed. With the arrival of the London Sinfonietta label, the world has suddenly
become a better place.' The Times | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Holst - The Planets
Berliner Philharmoniker & Rundfunkchor Berlin, Sir Simon Rattle Shirley Apthorp reviewed the premieres in the Financial Times (21st March 2006): "Rattle conducts the [Planets] suite with uncritical gusto, letting the orchestra’s lush sheen show... This audacious project is carried by Rattle’s flair, and nurtured with the optimal conditions needed to give new works a wider orbit. Watch the musical skies near you for further sightings of these rocky bodies"  BBC Music Magazine
Orchestral Choice - September 2006 |
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| |  | The PlanetsThis lavish visualisation of Gustav Holst's orchestral masterpiece The Planets and Colin Matthews' additional movement Pluto, the Renewer features spectacular images which enhance the symbolic meaning attributed to each planet by the composer.
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, David Atherton | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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