NMC Recordings Logo TM
Wigmore Hall
Bracing Change


JACK Quartet
Doric String Quartet
Carducci String Quartet
Guy Johnston, cello


NMC D216

D216 Cover
John Gilhooly OBE - Wigmore Hall Director writes … “Renewing the chamber music repertoire is central to the co-commissioning partnership between Wigmore Hall, The Radcliffe Trust and NMC Recordings.   We are delighted to support Simon Holt's 3rd Quartet with the JACK Quartet, Donnacha Dennehy's The weather of it with the Doric String Quartet and Anthony Gilbert's Haven of Mysteries with the Carducci String Quartet and Guy Johnston.   We are very pleased to support some of the finest musicians of their generation, achieving the highest standards of their interpretations in modern compositions.   I have no doubt that this recording will be praised for its vitality, freshness and the expressive power of new music.   Wigmore Hall’s wholehearted commitment to continue building the chamber music repertoire is central to this project, and we look forward to further recordings yet to be released in this series.”

Simon Holt, Donnacha Dennehy and Anthony Gilbert, the composers featured on this inaugural ‘Bracing Change’ album of new string commissions, are as contrasting in their responses to it as they are individual in character across their musical output.   Together, their new works — two quartets and a quintet — are a reminder that the medium has thrived for some 250 years not merely by adapting to change, but by inspiring all sorts of new music at its pioneering edge.


TRACK LISTING

      Simon Holt • 3rd Quartet
  1. matins       3'27
  2. Wu Ping's nail house       2'46
  3. a ladder to the moon       3'48
  4. expensive delicate ship       5'38
  5. the foresaken cry       2'18    6. Night's mantle descends       4'55
      JACK Quartet
      Christopher Otto violin - Ari Streisfeld violin
      John Pickford Richards viola - Kevin McFariand cello

  7. Donnacha Dennehy The weather of it       19'02
      Doric String Quartet
      Alex Redington violin - Jonathan Stone violin
      Hélèlne Clement viola - John Myerscough cello
      The Doric String Quartet is an exclusive artist of Chandos Records
      and appears with their kind permission.

      Anthony Gilbert Haven of Mysteries
  8. I. Laying out       7'17
  9. II. Reflections       5'11
10. III. Structures in stone       5'16
11. IV. Labyrinth       7'34
      Carducci String Quartet - Guy Johnston cello
      Matthew Denton violin - Michelle Fleming violin
      Eoin Schmidt-Martin viola - Emma Denton cello

      Total timing:       68'25

      Recorded live at Wigmore Hall, London



NMC Recordings are distributed in Australia by
Rockian Trading, P.O.Box 44, Briar Hill, Vic, 3088, Australia
Telephone (03) 9432 4149 ~ Facsimile (03) 9444 6879