Although currently little known in the UK, the Greek composer Konstantia Gourzi (b1962) is well established in Germany as a conductor and administrator as well as a composer. This disc features a selection from her growing output (56 works to date), focusing on solo piano and string quartet. Among the former, the seven miniatures of ‘noch fürcht’ ich’ (1993) use motivic elaboration and keyboard resonance to striking ends, while the five Klavierstücke (2004) afford a miniature cycle of teasing elusiveness. The brief study Eine kleine Geschichte (2005) recalls Silvestrov in its limpid rumination, whereas Aiolos Wind (2010) pays homage to six composers and musicians in laconically humorous terms.

With its single movement of almost 12 minutes, the string quartet Israel (2004) is much the most substantial work – its range of playing techniques allied to a harmonic content such as denotes this composer’s interest in combining idioms and instruments of different cultures. Its successor, P ILION (2007), unfolds as ‘nine fragments of eternity’ whose frequently stark contrasts of texture and expression create a whole that is demonstrably more than the sum of its parts. Piano and string quartet combine in Vibrato 1 and 2 (2010), their sharing of ideas and quizzical manner suggesting the one as an intriguing paraphrase of the other.

The performances suggest a close familiarity not just with the works in question but with Gourzi’s approach overall. Coolly spacious sound and a decent booklet essay round out this absorbing (though short measure) introduction to an eminently worthwhile composer.