For those who are still not familiar with the British
composer, Sally Beamish (b.1956) www.sallybeamish.com , she was born in
London and initially became a viola player before moving to Scotland where she
has since developed a career as a composer.
She is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the
University of Glasgow, a Creative Scotland Award, and the Paul Hamlyn Award.
With composer Alasdair Nicolson, Sally Beamish co-directs the annual St. Magnus
Composers' Course in Orkney.
Jazz and Scottish traditional music in particular are amongst
the many influences on her music. Her compositions include chamber, vocal,
choral and orchestral music as well as music theatre, film and television.
Sally Beamish’s music is performed and broadcast
internationally and since 1999 she has been championed by BIS Records www.bis.se , who have recorded much of her work.
It is BIS that have just released a recording of orchestral
works by Beamish, The Singing, Concerto for accordion and orchestra; Trumpet Concerto; Under the Wing of the Rock; A
Cage of Doves and Reckless. The
Royal Scottish National Orchestra www.rsno.org.uk
and
National Youth Orchestra of Scotland www.nyos.co.uk
are conducted
by Martyn Brabbins http://intermusica.co.uk/#artist/Martyn-Brabbins
with soloists James Crabb (accordion) www.jamescrabb.com/biography.htm
, Branford Marsalis (alto saxophone)
www.branfordmarsalis.com and Håkan
Hardenberger (trumpet) www.hakanhardenberger.com
 |
| SACD BIS 2156 |
The Singing -
Concerto for accordion and orchestra (2006) recalls the tragic time of the
Highland Clearances that began in the 1760s. www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/jacobitesenlightenmentclearances/clearances
The first movement, Andante
- Allegro – Andante, opens with the beat of a hushed, distant side drum. Another drum quietly enters as the orchestra
join with little twitterings from the accordion of James Crabb, beautifully
done. Woodwind add to the myriad of orchestral tapestry before the orchestra
brightens and increases in tempo as the accordion re-joins in the livelier allegro
section, again with much going on in the orchestra. The music becomes
increasingly lively before dropping to a slower section pointed up by the
timpani where the soloist brings a kind of accompanied cadenza. There are more
woodwind trills and twitters before a distinctly Scottish tune arrives.
The second movement consists of a Lento followed by six variations. In the lento the solo accordion brings
a very Scottish tune with a Scotch snap. Slowly, instruments of the orchestra subtly
join adding a lovely sonority. Variation I.
Più Mosso brings a slow, steady theme where the orchestra weave a fine accompaniment
to the accordion before a faster, staccato Variation
II. Più Mosso where the side drum re-appears as the energy and passion
increases.
Variation III. Ancora
Più Mosso continues the rhythmic feel of variation II before running into Variation IV. Adagio, a slow solemn
variation with a gloomy orchestra heaving around under the melancholy accordion.
The music slowly rises in orchestral power to which the soloist responds with
fast scales, picked up momentarily by the orchestra. As the accordion slows and
quietens we move into Variation V. Adagio
with quizzical little phrases over a quiet orchestral background, a moment of
much simplicity yet tremendous atmosphere and effect. Variation VI brings a quiet rush of sound from the accordion and
wind instruments who breathe into their instruments in a sustained passage.
The third and final movement, Variation VII Finale. Allegro arrives with the accordion livening
the atmosphere, rushing ahead with a lively percussion section and orchestra
providing some raucous sounds. Soon the accordion brings another very Scottish tune
with some brilliant playing from James Crabb before the music rushes ahead with
sounds of the pipes from the accordion and tubular bells chiming to provide an
atmospheric lead up to the riotous coda where the orchestra join.
This is a very attractive work that receives a brilliant performance
from James Crabb and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under Martyn
Brabbins.
The novel Magnus
by the Orcadian writer George Mackay Brown was the stimulus for A Cage of Doves (2007), dedicated to
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies who has been himself greatly affected by this poet and
writer. Magnus tells the story of the Martyrdom of Saint Magnus Erlendsson and
throughout this piece fragments of the ancient Hymn to St Magnus can be heard.
The music emerges slowly out of a gloomy depth, deep orchestral
instruments swirling around before a clarinet rises out of the orchestra,
joined by other woodwind who weave a lovely moment, pointed up by celeste. Brass
soon bring a distinctive sonority before a livelier section arrives with some
lovely little instrumental details. Timpani and percussion sound out to add
drama as the music gains in tempo and dynamics, rising to some dramatic
outbursts before quietening to a gentle , lovely atmospheric section with harp
and shifting orchestral textures. There are lovely little woodwind flourishes
as well as little instrumental motifs that fly out of the orchestral texture.
The music rises in strength and power to a terrific climax before tubular bells
chime as the music subsides to a quiet section where a muted trumpet intones.
There is a repeated note from a flute, around which some fine delicate
orchestral textures are woven before a fluttering flute and hushed strings
bring the coda.
This is a lovely work, finely played here.
Under the Wing of the
Rock (2006/2008) was originally written for viola and strings but is here
performed in its later version for alto saxophone and strings, played by Branford
Marsalis, for whom this version was written. The idea for this piece was a
Gaelic poem concerning a lullaby that was supposed to have been sung by a
mother to her child when fleeing the massacre at Glen Coe.
A hushed alto saxophone theme opens alone; Branford Marsalis
bringing some lovely varied tones before the orchestra gently join, adding to a
glorious melody which is beautifully played. The strings rise over the soloist
as he climbs higher with moments of greater passion before falling back for a faster,
staccato section with the soloist bringing many fine moments as the strings
weave around. There are some vibrant,
flowing passages as the theme is developed before a rhythmic passage with a staccato
motif arrives. However, the music later slows for a return of the quieter
flowing melody, the saxophone weaving some fine passages around the gentler
orchestral accompaniment before finding its way to the gentle coda.
This is a glorious work that receives an exceptionally fine
performance from Branford Marsalis and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Reckless (2012) for
chamber orchestra was a commission by the Southbank Sinfonia, an orchestra
for young professionals. It opens with a fast moving, sparkling theme that rattles
ahead full of good humour, sounding very much like a mini concerto for orchestra
as the theme is shared around the players. There is a brief quieter moment
before the sudden end. What a lovely little work this is.
The last work on this new disc is Beamish’s Trumpet Concerto (2003). It reflects city life from its architecture to the
more squalid side. In three movements, Prelude.
Adagio - Allegro opens with a chord on low brass, the orchestra slowly
fanning out before drooping phrases from the brass are heard. A very
atmospheric sound is created before the soloist, Håkan Hardenberger enters,
bringing a bright slow paced theme which blends and weaves with the orchestra.
Soon a rhythmic, staccato theme starts with woodblock and side drum which the
soloist takes ahead with the orchestra. Beamish again brings some lovely
instrumental detail. The music eventually takes more of a flow as a dissonance
is brought. It increases in drama and dynamics before broadening in a fine
moment before finding its way, rhythmically and quietly, to the end.
There are timpani rolls as the orchestra, with xylophone,
quietly open the Andante where there
are many lovely colours created. The trumpet enters to bring a languid, jazz
influenced theme with a syncopated orchestral accompaniment. Later there are shifting orchestral harmonies,
joined by shimmering xylophone chords before a bass tuba adds to the orchestral
texture as the soloist and orchestra gain in dynamics and passion and the coda
arrives suddenly.
In the Allegro –
Presto percussion sound out flamboyantly before the soloist enters with a strident
theme, a march which the orchestra takes forward through some terrific dynamic
passages, brightly lit and coloured by percussion. Part way there is a cadenza
where Hardenberger brings some terrific, fluent and controlled playing before
the orchestra leads on with percussion pointing up the music as the soloist re-enters.
Drums, percussion and low orchestra stride ahead before orchestral brass drive the
music on. The music scurries to a climactic passage as soloist and orchestra
move inexorably forward to a tremendous coda.
As one would expect, Håkan Hardenberger proves to be a
terrific soloist. The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland reveals themselves
to be a very fine orchestra who bring much to this fine performance.
Sally Beamish is a composer who can create wonderful atmosphere
and colour. The works on this new disc are outstanding as are the performances.
The recordings, made at the Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, Scotland are first rate
and there are excellent booklet notes from the composer.
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