Double Concerto for Violin and Cello
Remembrance for Strings
Concerto for Viola and Orchestra
Octet

There must be some mysterious metaphysical organism at play which compels English composers to write such potently expressive music for string orchestra. Gustav Holst's St Paul's Suite, Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Edward Elgar's Elegy for Strings, Frank Bridge's Lament, to select but a few examples. Written as recently as 2021, the Remembrance for Strings by Philip Sawyers, poignantly performed here by the English String Orchestra, without a doubt belongs near or at the top of that list. Based on an evocative, recurring seven note motif that weaves its way through the whole piece as if part and parcel of the orchestral fabric, it stuns the listener when, at the very end, this motif rises to the top and, in one final breath, shines brightly. It was composed at the request of a friend who had recently lost his mother, and certainly captures the sentiment extremely well. In a previous review of this composer's Symphony No. 4 I had remarked that he exhibited an "intuitive control over symphonic development." The masterfully controlled development of this simple motif certainly reinforces this impression.

The two concertos that bookend this piece are highly indicative of a 21st century composer who still respects music, and retains the mindset of early 20th century composers. Rather than exposing the soloists to freakish displays of technical pyrotechnics or nonsensical rhythmic or harmonic contortions as seems to be the norm, Philip Sawyers still sets the solo instrument into a 'concertante' role and perspective. Part of the orchestral texture yet still the dominant figure. And in true Double Concerto form, Daniel Rowland (violin) and Maja Bogdanovic (cello) not only outdo each other during their individual excursions, but also harmonize together as well. All of it set against a rich and compelling orchestral background that never really takes a backseat as part of the harmonic dénouement of each and every movement.

To all of you classical music enthusiasts and collectors out there who bemoan the fact that there isn't much in the way of "good" new music to listen to these days, rejoice in the fact that all the works on this new disc are world premiere recordings, and are all in their own way highly impressive examples of "good" new music.