Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Born in London but living in Stirlingshire, Sally Beamish has amassed a healthy body of work since she decided to devote herself full-time to composition at the beginning of the 1990s (she was previously a member of the Raphael Ensemble, amongst other leading British groups). All three works here employ striking imagery on which to base their structures, yet stand up perfectly well on their own as satisfying entities. Above all, what lends Beamish's music its special appeal is its clarity, economy and sheer resourcefulness. Inspired both by soloist Robert Cohen's artistry and Ted Hughes's River anthology, the 1997 Cello Concerto--by turns playful and sensuous--is a particularly fetching creation, but the altogether grittier Viola Concerto from 1995 (based on the story of Peter's denial of Christ) also repays close scrutiny. Taking its cue from a Scottish Borders ballad, the 1993 scena for oboe and orchestra Tam Lin likewise boasts a wealth of dramatic and textural incident. Needless to say, both performances and recordings are up to the impeccable standards we have come to expect from this Swedish label. Happily, there's more Beamish in the BIS pipeline. --Andrew Achenbach
