George King: Jubilees
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Philip Cashian, George King, Magnus Lindberg, George Benjamin
Genre:
Instrumental
Label: Odradek
Magazine Review Date: 03/2014
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 60
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: ODRCD308
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Piano Jubilee |
Magnus Lindberg, Composer
George King, Composer Magnus Lindberg, Composer |
Six pieces after paintings by Ben Hartley |
Philip Cashian, Composer
George King, Composer Philip Cashian, Composer |
Shadowlines |
George Benjamin, Composer
George Benjamin, Composer George King, Composer |
6 Piano Etudes |
George King, Composer
George King, Composer |
Author: Jed Distler
As you’d guess from the title, Philip Cashian’s Six Pieces after Paintings by Ben Hartley are more descriptive than abstract. Several stand out: ‘Beware of the Twins’ is a terse jig consisting of relentless double notes alternating between hands, and the opening ‘Cock-a-Dandy’ evokes the image of Messiaen’s free-range aviary contained in a cuckoo clock.
I fail to hear the ‘epic’ qualities King ascribes to George Benjamin’s Shadowlines, which are intimately scaled and carefully proportioned in terms of creating harmonic tension and resolution, wasting not one note. By contrast, King’s own six piano études are less obviously original in that they readily reveal their influences – No 6’s rapid single lines and decorative flourishes suggest a Ligeti and Debussy étude mash-up – but they are well made and hold the attention. No 1’s intense contrary-motion action concludes with a short and surprising single note. No 4 consists of haunting repeated phrases at differing soft dynamic levels joined by sparely deployed single notes and billowy chords that are similar to those of No 3, which anchor that étude’s whimsical flourishes and repeated-note gestures.
No cause for complaint concerning the slightly dry engineering, although a warmer, more lustrous ambience might better offset the music’s leaner and more spacious qualities. Let’s hope King follows up this worthwhile release with a disc that shows off his improvising acumen.
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.
Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
SubscribeGramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.