21st Century Music for Harpsichord

Release Date: 20th Apr 2015
Catalogue No: PFCD036
Label: Prima Facie
Length: 75 minutes

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Ponti: In Fuga da Verona

Work length8:43

Maggie Cole

Jones, P J: Santoor Suite

Work length3:57

Mahan Esfahani

Smith, Aled: Box Toccata

Work length2:50

Goska Isphording

Božičević: Summer in the World

Work length6:04

Elaine Funaro

Wayte: Hot to Trot Love Bot

Work length6:12

Elaine Funaro

Kastens: Schattenreise

Work length9:01

Penelope Cave

Kang, J S: Stick Boy and Match Girl in Love

Work length4:30

Jane Chapman

Lee, Junghae: Improvisation sur les Ondes Chromatiques

Work length7:11

Christophe Kaufmann

Thomas Donahue: Five Shapes

Work length7:00

Elaine Funaro

Kraus, Jürgen: The Ascent of the K517

Work length3:37

Jane Chapman

Ikeda: Prism

Work length8:45

Jane Chapman

Goves: Island Surveys (1)

Work length3:28

Jane Chapman

Rob Keeley: Two-Part Inventions No. 6 & No. 7

Work length2:59

Mahan Esfahani

Carpenter, G: Fin de Siècle

Work length1:32

Goska Isphording

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This landmark recording is a showcase, not only of new and remarkably diverse works for harpsichord, but also of an unprecedented assembly of renowned harpsichordists whose credentials for premièring these works are unparalleled. The performers include Maggie Cole, one of the best-known harpsichordists in Britain today and Mahan Esfahani, the rising star of the instrument.

Most notably, the music on this disc is the culmination of a ground-breaking event: the first international composition competition for harpsichord to be run in Britain, launched in 2012 by the British Harpsichord Society to mark the tenth anniversary of its founding.

Over 90 entries from 18 countries were adjudicated over two rounds, producing a shortlist of solo works which admirably demonstrated the qualities sought by the competition: professionalism, integrity and the ability to say something new and exciting about the harpsichord. The first, second and joint-third prize compositions (by Alessandro Ponti, Jung Sun Kang, and Aled Smith and Jürgen Kraus respectively) are joined on this disc by seven other competition entries, along with works by the adjudication panel members, comprising a programme of 14 première recordings. Here then is truly inventive music of our time for an instrument whose historical associations often belie its contemporary relevance: music to challenge and inspire the listener as well as to engage and excite the growing number of harpsichordists who are incorporating contemporary music into their programmes.

What these composers all demonstrate is a collective sensitivity and insight into the tonal and musical properties of the harpsichord, coupled with a consummate confidence in, and command of, their craft.

21st Century Music for Harpsichord

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