Nyman: The Heart Asks Pleasure First

This programme contains a representative collection of important works written between 1901 and 2000. This period is sometimes thought of as the era of ‘modern’ music, when composers sought to break free from the Romantic styles of the 19th century by experimenting with daring new harmonies and forms, but much of the music written after 1900 still harked back to the familiar style of the past. The first CD opens with composers who still wrote in the Romantic style, including Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Khachaturian, Holst and Elgar, and we also hear part of the slow movement of the most successful concerto written during the 20th century, the Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo. Then come the early innovators who broke new ground like the Second Viennese School of Webern, Berg and Schoenberg, as well as others who continued to use the more traditional methods of composition but who wrote in a more advanced style such as Stravinsky and Bartók. These are followed by later composers who wrote in a wide range of so-called ‘modern’ styles including Takemitsu, Tavener and Adès. The large and prolific school of American composers active during the 20th century is represented by some extremely popular pieces like Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, as well as more adventurous works by Ives, Reich and Adams. The set also includes extracts from choral pieces by Boulez, Pärt, Tavener, Rutter and Jenkins, and ends with one of the 20th century’s most successful choral works, Orff’s Carmina Burana.

9 of Michael Nyman’s greatest hits arranged/performed by The Motion Trio.

Bonus Track - ‘Silence’ written and performed by The Motion Trio

The Motion Trio are an accordion trio. They were honored with the ‘Gus Viseur’ award at the Musical Discovery of the Year awards in 2005 in France - a top honour in the accordion world.

They are the grand prix laureates of the 4th Edition of the Krzysztof Penderecki International Contemporary Chamber Music Competition.

The Motion Trio have participated in a great number of prestigous festivals events inlcuding the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Alternativa Festival, Moscow, Migration Music Festival Taipei, Fest Der Kontinente Berlin, Gaudeamus Festival, Amsterdam, Reykjavik Arts Festival, Festival d'Ile de France, Paris and many others.

The best solo piano works from the pen of Britain’s most innovative and celebrated composer, Michael Nyman, played by Ksenia Bashmet, daughter of the acclaimed violist Yuri Bashmet. The Piano Collection includes the haunting theme from The Piano. Little or no competition for the Michael Nyman solo piano works makes this disc a much sought after release.

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.