Time, Space & Change (2020)
SHOP
Catalogue No: MSV 28597
EAN/UPC: 809730859724
Artists: New Music Players, Orchestra of Sound and Light
Composers: Ed Hughes
Release Date: March 2020
Genres: Chamber Music, Orchestral
Periods: Contemporary
Discs: 1
Total Playing Time: 71:35
Time, Space and Change documents the work of an intriguing, compelling, and inventive contemporary voice. - Ken Meltzer
One of the Top 100 albums of 2020 (Sunday Times)
Ed Hughes is a master of composition to the highest degree; his works have been premiered and performed around the world and include operas, music for silent films, chamber, orchestral and piano works – and those just on his recordings for Métier. He has received commissions from London Sinfonietta, The Opera Group, Brighton Festival, Glyndebourne and major ensembles. He won the British Composer Award for his Chaconne for Jonathan Harvey.
This new album reflects his deep interest in ancient music and poetry (as demonstrated by Sinfonia for chamber orchestra), and also the landscape and natural features of Sussex (Cuckmere: A Portrait) but however local the inspiration, Hughes’s work has universal appeal.
Performers:
Cuckmere: A Portrait: Orchestra of Sound and Light conducted by Ed Hughes
Sinfonia: New Music Players conducted by Nicholas Smith
Media Vita: New Music Players Piano Trio (Suzanne Stanzeleit violin Joe Giddey cello Richard Casey piano)
Ed Hughes (b.1968):
Cuckmere: A Portrait - I. Prelude (2:00)
Cuckmere: A Portrait - II. Autumn (6:30)
Cuckmere: A Portrait - III. Interlude I (1:30)
Cuckmere: A Portrait - IV. Winter (6:30)
Cuckmere: A Portrait - V. Interlude II (1:23)
Cuckmere: A Portrait - VI. Spring (4:58)
Cuckmere: A Portrait - VII. Interlude III (1:27)
Cuckmere: A Portrait - VIII. Summer (6:15)
Media Vita (piano trio) (10:34)
Sinfonia - I. Agincourt (2:32)
Sinfonia - II. Stella Celi Extirpavit (2:54)
Sinfonia - III. Veni Sancte Spiritus (7:07)
Sinfonia - IV. In iejunio et fletu (6:34)
Sinfonia - V. Silver Swan (4:20)
Sinfonia - VI. In Nomine (6:56)
Sinfonia (2018) reflects Hughes’s love for the history and tradition of English music. The work is based upon English vocal pieces from between 1400-1600. The first five movements are the composer’s “portraits” of such vocal works (“Agincourt,” “Stella Celi Extirpavit,” “Veni Sancte Spiritus,” “In iejunio et fletu,” and “Silver Swan”). The sixth (“In Nomine”) combines music inspired by works of the In Nomine genre, interweaving with sounds of more contemporary London life. Hughes views and presents the various early vocal works through the prism of his modem aesthetic. To my ears, the work charts a journey that moves from darkness to light, both in its harmonic basis, and instrumental colors and textures.
Time, Space and Change documents the work of an intriguing, compelling, and inventive contemporary voice. Recommended.
Ken Meltzer. Fanfare
[In Sinfonia] peel back the layers of chromatic decoration and crisp polytonality and you will find Renaissance melodies utterly transformed by his musical language. It is a masterpiece that satisfies the endless tension between tradition and modernity in classical music. This is truly exciting music—Ed Hughes has an uncommon skill.
Nathan Faro. American Record Guide
Enchanting… astoundingly fresh and utterly devoid of cliché. [Hughes’s] voice remains defiantly identifiable The performances of all these pieces are superb. Métier’s sound is first-rate and perfectly tailored to the specific needs of Hughes’ singular pieces.
Richard Hanlon MusicWeb International
Hughes’ writing is very seductive, and he is adept at creating striking and rather lovely textures. The performances from the Orchestra of Sound and Light, and from the New Music Players are uniformly excellent. This disc forms an approachable introduction to the composer’s music, providing the new listener with a variety of ways into Hughes’ complex, seductive and fascinating sound world.
Robert Hugill. Planet Hugill