Matthew Barley – Around Britten (2013) [HDTracks FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Matthew Barley – Around Britten (2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 1:12:29 minutes | 1,15 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Master, Official Digital Download  – Source: HDTracks | @ Signum Records
Recorded: July 2012 at Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, UK.

Around Britten is an extensive tour of events by Matthew Barley that pays homage to Benjamin Britten’s creativity and innovation, celebrating Britten’s centenary and showing that his music really is for everyone. The album features Britten’s Third Suite, solo works by Sir John Tavener and Gavin Bryars, and some multi-tracked surprises.

This disc is a distillation of the pieces Matthew Barley is taking on his 100-date tour this year to celebrate Britten’s 100th birthday. Although it doesn’t include the pieces he has commissioned from James MacMillan and Dai Fujikura, it nevertheless centres round a single piece in the same way the concerts will—Britten’s Third Cello Suite.

As always, Barley’s playing is fearless. The disc is a voyage around the cello as well as around Britten, and one that never becomes relentless. In his Improvisation, there is skilfully woven reference to the profusion of styles in which he plays: Ukrainian folksong, jazz and, of course, tonal experimentation of the type that is so noticeable in the Britten suite and that plays such an important role in its final movement, the ‘Kontakion’ which, alongside the pieces Threnos and Chant by John Tavener, reflects on the death of close friends. There are five tracks that are Barley’s own arrangements of accompanied pieces, which he multitracked at home. Particularly well chosen for this purpose, and beautiful in its execution, is the choral dance ‘Concord’ from Britten’s opera Gloriana a movement whose need for sustained sound and line has overpowered many a choir (professional as well as amateur) and which sounds new-born here with the warmth of the cello. The high point, though, is Barley’s arrangement of Britten’s setting for voice and piano of John Donne’s poem Since she whom I loved. Even without the words, Barley has managed to capture—and further amplify—its great sadness and isolation. -Caroline Gill, Gramophone

Tracklist:
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Cello Suite No 3 Op 87
1 Movement 1: Introduzione: Lento[2’10]
2 Movement 2: Marcia: Allegro[1’49]
3 Movement 3: Canto: Con moto[1’19]
4 Movement 4: Barcarola: Lento[1’33]
5 Movement 5: Dialogo: Allegretto[1’42]
6 Movement 6: Fuga: Andante espressivo[2’55]
7 Movement 7: Recitativo: Fantastico[1’07]
8 Movement 8: Moto perpetuo: Presto[0’57]
9 Movement 9a: Passacaglia: Lento solenne[4’25]
10 Movement 9b: Passacaglia: Mournful Song[0’33]
11 Movement 9c: Passacaglia: Autumn[0’19]
12 Movement 9d: Passacaglia: Street Song[0’26]
13 Movement 9e: Passacaglia: Depart in peace, with the saints[2’42]

Anonymous – traditional, arr. Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) & Matthew Barley (b1965)
14 Greensleeves[2’06]
15 The Salley Gardens[2’33]

Gavin Bryars (b1943)
Tre Laude Dolce
16 I. [6’26]
17 II. [5’18]
18 III. [5’47]

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), arr. Matthew Barley (b1965)
19 Since she whom I love hath payd her last debt (No 6 of The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Op 35)[3’28]Sir John Tavener (1944-2013)
20 Threnos[7’12]
21 Chant[4’25]

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), arr. Matthew Barley (b1965)
22 Concord (No 2 of Choral dances from Gloriana, 1954 version)[2’26]Matthew Barley (b1965)
23 Improvisation[9’52]Anonymous – traditional, arr. Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) & Matthew Barley (b1965)
24 Oliver Cromwell[0’49]

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): Third Suite for Cello, op.87
Sir John Tavener (1944-2013): Threnos and Chant
Gavin Bryars (b. 1943): Tre Laude Dolce
Matthew Barley (b. 1965): Improvisation; arr. Greensleeves, The Salley Gardens, Since she whom I loved, and Oliver Cromwell

Matthew Barley, cello

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