Bobby Mitchell - Dreams War Songs Winter Nights Saints & Sinners - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Probably best described as musique concrete topologique- or a kind of topological study of found musical sound- these etudes are re-writings of the music of Schumann, Couperin, Paganini, Sgambati, Brahms, and others. By placing these old pieces into a hall of mirrors- revealing them upside-down and back to front- we hear them all again, but as if for the first time. Listening here feels like going back to child-listening, when our ears did not quite understand the grammar of the music (or the words of the songs we listened for), when we were not y et quite sure what to make of the many notes that just seemed to fly or flow. The etudes' creation lies between composition and performance; improvisation makes the next event sound as if the previous event were different. Some of the pieces neutralize harmonic functionality and flatten contrapuntal syntax into pattern alone, as if to be hearing the past in a radical present-tense. Others loosen, and then even lose, their motivic values, in an oddly resonant chordal confusion- an uncanny recursion. Like the flight of Walter Benjamin's angelus novus, history is propelled into the future to which it's back is turned. (Martin Scherzinger) Album Tracks 1. The Horse Is Not Mine, a Hobby Horse 2. Verso Il Capo 3. Fast Zu Sorglos 4. Errata Erratica 5. Kinderreim 6. Chopi-Chopin 7. Likembe-Liszt 8. Rondo À la Rondo 9. Paganini, Piano Hero 10. Occidentalism 11. Mbele Ni Nyuma 12. Gigue 13. Mbiras de St. Gervais 14. Perso, Ma Felice 15. Verso Il Capo II (W/ Tom Rosenkranz)

Helen Habershon is both an accomplished performer and an inspired composer of music which often evokes nature, or human emotions and sensibilities this is music which is 'easy listening' and in the light music tradition, and is unpretentious, but never facile it has deep meaning. Her first two albums have been highly praised and were Album of the Month and Album of the Week on Classic FM (UK) respectively. Her most recent album, 'Found in Winter', released in 2019, has been aired by Classic FM ever since. Helen had an established performing career until a serious injury led her to turn to composing, but she is now once again able to perform. Here she teams up with the successful pianist and arranger John Lenehan, who has appeared on over 70 recordings including several solo albums for Sony. For Found in Dreams Helen Habershon and John Lenehan offer a wonderfully diverse collection of repertoire. This includes beautiful arrangements of some of their favorite pieces; a couple of short movements of outstanding clarinet repertoire by Brahms and Finzi and some delightful new compositions of their own. As well as his beautifully crafted arrangements John has also written two lovely pieces to add to Helen's. The cover design is a dream image from Helen's five year old grandson. Album Tracks 1. Apres Un Reve 2. Yesterday's Dreams 3. Dreaming of Summer 4. Traumerei = Dreaming (No. 7 from Kinderszenen = Scenes from Childhood), Op. 15 5. Whisperings of Love 6. Deep River 7. Beau Soir 8. Contentment at Dusk 9. I'll Love You Forever 10. Canto Popolare 11. Deep Reflections 12. Carol. No 3 from Five Bagatelles 13. Forlana. No 4 from Five Bagatelles 14. Intermezzo in a Major, Op. 118 No. 2 15. Allegretto Grazioso (3rd Movement from the Clarinet Sonata in F minor, Op. 120 No. 1) 16. Love Never Ends 17. Goin' Home (3rd Movement, Largo, from Sympho

Haunting songs of love and longing. Ancient melodies which tell of the landscape and the past, of heroic deeds and love lost and gained, expressed through music for harp, Aeolian pipe, small drum and the music of the sea itself. An atmospheric and very relaxing album. Album Tracks 1. An Long Reubaidh 2. My Lady Heron's Dompe 3. Cumha Peather Ruaidhri 4. Coilsfield House 5. The Rowan Tree 6. Braveheart 7. An Gille Bann 8. Mairi Bhan Og 9. My Lagan Love 10. Avondale 11. Bi Falbh O'N Uinneig 12. Fear a 'Bhata 13. Mo Nighean Chruinn Donn 14. By Yon Castle Wa' 15. Harp Song 16. Mnathan a Ghlinne Seo 17. The Isle of Arran 18. Eriskay Love-Lilt 19. Summer in Kintyre 20. Cumha Mhiccriomainn 21. An Clarsair 22. Hio, Hua Raonuill Ud Thall 23. Celtic Angels