STUART JONES (b. around 1950?): Gharnati, SIMON LIMBRICK: Mopti Street, ARIK O'REGAN (b.1978): Fragments from a Gradual Process, ANNE DUDLEY (b.1956): Vermilion Rhapsody, LOU HARRISON (1917-2003): Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra.

Catalogue Number: 02J097
Label: Signum
Reference: SIGCD111
Format: CD
Price: $17.98
Description: Harrison's colorful concerto was the springboard that led to the present collaboration between these players and the commissioning of several of the accompanying works. A typical, attractive piece of Harrison's 'East meets West' style, the works have some jazzy elements and at times use the percussion ensemble in the manner of a gamelan, not unexpectedly. Throughout, much is made of the contrast with the lyrical, melodic violin part, and the result is lively, sonically varied and original, and hugely enjoyable. Dudley's piece alternates the fast, marimba-driven textures that are a staple of percussion ensemble concerts with gentle, violin-led, atmospheric music. O'Regan's work, which takes its title from an important essay by Steve Reich, also follows Reich somewhat in its process-driven textures and the incorporation of gestures from ethnic musics, from Ghana and Algeria. Jones' Gharnati is an explicit evocation of an 'ethnic' culture - in this case, Andalucian Moorish, with distinctive middle-eastern modality in its melodic structure and atmospheric use of percussion effects. The other two works are an improvisation based on Malian themes collected by Limbrick, and a concert adaptation of a traditional Ghanaian dance. Madeleine Mitchell (violin), Ensemble Bash.