HARRISON BIRTWISTLE

 

Theseus Game

 

Earth Dances*

 

Ensemble Modern

Martyn Brabbins, Pierre-Andre Valade, Pierre Boulez*

 

Harrison Birtwistle is 'the most forceful and uncompromisingly original British composer of his generation' - The New Grove. His works combine modernist aesthetic with mythic power and emotional impact. This dynamic coupling of pieces will be released on the occasion of Harrison Birtwistle’s 70th birthday in July 2004 with special 70th birthday features in London (Proms).

 

Theseus Game is Birtwistle's latest large-scale work for ensemble and two conductors; it has been co-commissioned by Kultur Ruhr & Musik im Industrieraum for the Ensemble Modern Orchestra and by the London Sinfonietta.

 

"Everything is beautifully judged, and the range of expression Birtwistle draws from the two instruments, and from the voice, is enormous."

- The Guardian

 

Earth Dances is a BBC commission and a massive work with eruptive dynamism whose constant shifting of material generates the work's prodigious and often violent surface of energy - making the Earth 'dance'

 

1.         THESEUS GAME (2002)

for large ensemble with two conductors

to Elmar Weingarten

 

Commissioned by the RuhrTriennale, generously supported by Betty Freeman, by the South Bank Centre, and by members of the London Sinfonietta Commissioning Circle. Additional Funds provided by the Ensemble Modern Fonds through a donation of Michael Loulakis

 

ENSEMBLE MODERN

MARTYN BRABBINS - PIERRE-ANDRE VALADE

Live recording from the world premiere given at the RuhrTriennale on 19 & 20 September 2003

 

2.         EARTH DANCES (1985/1986)

for orchestra

to Pierre Boulez

 

ENSEMBLE MODERN ORCHESTRA - PIERRE BOULEZ

Recorded live on 29 October 2001 in the Alte Oper, Frankfurt

The musicians of the Ensemble Modern are grateful for the support of the Aventis Foundation in financing the costs of one chair in its orchestra

Recording: Frankfurt, Alte Oper, Grosser Saal, 29 October 2001 (Earth Dances)

Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, Gebläsehalle, 19 & 20 September 2003 (Theseus Game)

 

DG 4770702