RTE National Symphony Orchestra; David Brophy
Release Date: 23 October 2020
Label: NMC Recordings
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 5023363025720
Genres: Classical Contemporary
Description
Irish composer Ed Bennett was born in Bangor, Co.Down. His music, which has been described in the press as 'anarchic' (Irish Times), 'stunningly intense' (The Quietus) and 'thrilling' (Gramophone) is often characterized by its strong rhythmic energy, extreme contrasts and the combination of acoustic, electronic and multimedia elements; it was described in The Guardian as 'unclassifiable, raw-nerve music of huge energy and imagination'
This new album focuses on a number of Bennett's larger-scale works. In Freefalling – inspired by Felix Baumgartner's 2012 world-record freefall – the music plays on the sense of falling at high speed. The sound is propulsive and heaving, with hammering cymbals, drums, brass and strings. It's an exciting and intense ride!
The title piece, Psychedelia, was premiered in 2017 by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra with Thomas Adès conducting. It builds slowly from a solo violin open E string, to a whole orchestra 'losing itself in a sea of rotating pulses and patterns'.
Bennett's own ensemble Decibel perform Song of the Books for solo cello, electronics and amplified ensemble. It uses the Irish traditional air Amhrán na Leabhar as its basis, which laments the loss of a cherished collection of books belonging to poet Tomás Rua Ó Súilleabháin (1785-1848). Magnetic is a buzzing and fizzing 8-minute essay for bass clarinet and prepared piano, and closing the album is the bombastic Organ Grinder for midi organ and an ensemble of brass, wind, percussion, and electric and bass guitars.
Tracklisting
Lisa Illean, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, GBSR Duo, Juliet Fraser, Explore Ensemble
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins, Andrew Davis
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, London Sinfonietta, Ryan Wigglesworth, Huw Watkins
Richard Baker
Mark Padmore, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta
Zubin Kanga
Thomas Simaku, soloists of Ensemble Intercontemporain
Onyx Brass
Nigel Price Organ Trio
Conrad Herwig
Norma Winstone & Kit Downes
Oded Tzur
Su Rossy Girod, Nat Su, Jorge Rossy
Jonathan Salvi Arugula Sextet
Bob Baldwin
Steven Nichols
