NOTES ON THE WORKS GESANGBUCH Bell Bird Motet 1 Bell Bird Motet (2011) [8.12] for chamber choir, a cappella. 2011 BBC Singers conductor In 2011, Cowie founded and directed the first Earth Music Festival in Bristol – an 2 The Soft Complaining Flute (2003) [6.44] event celebrating composers, visual artists, film- BBC Singers makers and writers’ responses to the natural Stephen Preston baroque flute Stephen Cleobury conductor and living world. BBC Radio 3 commissioned a new work for the festival and Cowie’s response Gesangbuch (1975-6) was to compose a companion-piece to the 3 Herbstlich - Eaves Wood [10.03] earlier Lyre Bird Motet – this time inspired 4 Winterlied - Martinmere [10.11] by dawn and not dusk. The bell bird is a thrush- 5 Habichtswald - Spring [8.16] like Australian bird of dense wooded bush, 6 Stimmungsbild - Hest Bank [13.33] often close to water. The birds congregate BBC Singers and nest in large groups, the males engaging in a vibrant and bell-like heterophony mostly Simon Joly conductor at dawn when their songs rise to a climactic point. Like its companion piece, the Lyre 7 Lyre Bird Motet (2002) [7.14] Bird, it is the female voices that invoke the BBC Singers bell-chants of the birds towards the end of Stephen Cleobury conductor the piece. It opens, however, with translations Total timings: [64.40] of choruses of several species of Australian frogs.

BBC SINGERS STEPHEN CLEOBURY, SIMON JOLY ENDYMION STEPHEN PRESTON

www.signumrecords.com - 3 - The Soft Complaining Flute Gesangbuch is dedicated to for 6 sopranos and baroque flute. 2003 who at that time was a close friend and mentor to Edward Cowie. The title derives from With the same title as a movement from Goethe, literally meaning, ‘a book of songs’. Handel’s Ode to St Cecilia, Cowie intentionally It is also a work that celebrates The Four casts this work in the shadows of the late Seasons with perhaps more than a hint of Baroque. It is also inspired by the virtuosity Vivaldi’s focus on textures and pulsating rhythms. and innovative technical playing of Stephen Preston, whose ecosonic techniques (special Beginning in the autumn, Cowie transports timbral and pitch manipulation through a the listener into a sound-world of bright combination of elaborate cross-fingering and ‘hot’ colours, conjuring with the play of light lip-shape) appear several times in this short on autumn leaves; the gentle engulfment of piece – especially in a cadenza close to the mists and light rain. This, like the remaining end of the work. The prevailing mood of the piece movements, is evoked by wordless sounds is a flux between sadness and veiled exultation. from the choir, excecptfor a few descriptive elements of text relating to landscape Gesangbuch and colour and a direct quotation in for mixed chorus and 13 instruments. 1975-76 German from Goethe, and at the close of the movement, a setting in four parts of This large-scale work was commissioned by poeme d’Automme of Baudelaire. The movements the Brighton Festival and was premiered by the that follow form a procession of ever-changing BBC Singers and the Brighton Festival Ensemble. textures and ‘moods’, none more elegiac and It was to be the first of many collaborations scintillating than the close of the work in with the BBC Singers, marking the start of an Stimmungsbild, where a moonrise over the involvement that has continued from 1975 to estuarine sand banks of Morecambe Bay in the present day. (Cowie was appointed their solo horn and percussion (including harp, piano Lancashire drifts and ebbs through several first Associate Composer from 2002–5.) Cast and celeste), two of the movements feature tonal regions – ending on a rapturous benediction in four choral movements, each accompanied either the female or male vocal groups, and in F-sharp major. by different configurations of winds, strings, the others a full chorus of 24 voices.

- 4 - - 5 - Lyre Bird Motet In all of the works on this CD, Cowie uses EDWARD COWIE of the building process that leads towards for chamber choir, a cappella. 2002 phonetic sounds of his own invention, together the music. The illustrations here are taken with fragments of texts taken from his own Edward Cowie was born in Birmingham in 1943, from sketchbooks relating to the works on The Lyre Bird Motet has proved to be a favourite preparatory sketchbooks. The latter is especially and first came to international prominence with disc, and form a second-stage process of with the BBC Singers and audiences alike. true of both the Lyre Bird Motet and the his BBC Prom commission, Leviathan in 1975. composition, the first being ‘field-work’ and the Cowie spent 12 years living and working in Bell Bird Motet. Since that time his music has been recorded, third stage being the compositional work itself. Australia, often spending days at a time performed and featured in major festivals all exploring wild bush country on his own. On one In Gesangbuch, Cowie makes brief selective over the world. He studied with Goehr and www.edward-cowie.com of these trips, he sat on the edge of a cliff quotes from Goethe and Baudelaire, and in Lutosławski. First trained as a physicist, but overlooking the King Valley in Victoria. It was the final movement the choir sing the Latin also studying painting at The Slade, his career evening time, with wreaths of blue/purple names of many species of wading birds. parallels and fuses the arts with the sciences. bush-fire smoke in the distance. Just as the Extracts from Dryden’s poem ‘The Soft His visual work has been exhibited worldwide, light finally dipped towards an inky darkness, Complaining Flute’ are sung by the sopranos, and he has made several television films, several male lyrebirds began to sing in a though what texts there are become layered commissioned work for radio, and worked as series of interlocking but combative ensemble and phased, and thus not a normal flow of a conductor with orchestras and ensembles in performances. Their songs – a combination sung text. Cowie sees phonetics, words and Germany, the UK and Australia. His music has of beautiful flute-like arabesques and clicks texts as materials that inform the singers of often been described as ‘inter-sensual’ meaning and hisses – captivated Cowie, and it is what the music is doing. For example, in all that the listening experience is connected to towards that ravishing avian chorus that the of the works, singers find themselves singing visualisation. He intends his music to invite, work moves. Its structure also has a close the names of colours, or short verbal invoke and impress the listener with ‘a sense of relationship with the chaconne, opening with a descriptions of landscape features. The effect place and a place for all of the senses’. series of chords which phase between G minor that Cowie seeks is that words become like and major, and which permeate the flow of any other acoustic signals, and that the Edward Cowie is internationally renowned as a the music from beginning to end. The closing absorption of text and non-text is designed visual artist, his paintings and drawings two minutes feature the solo work of the simply to enrich the sensations within the having been exhibited all over the world sopranos, each intoning different versions of listener’s ears. where they can be seen in public and private lyrebird song as the light fades and closing with collections. In the past decade, Cowie has the fitting words – goodnight! Notes provided by the composer employed acts of drawing (what he calls

‘drawing towards music’ as an essential part © Heather Cowie

- 6 - - 7 - BBC SINGERS Chief Conductor David Hill The group works closely with composer Gabriel Principal Guest Conductors Jackson, their Associate Composer from January Sopranos Altos Tenors Basses Paul Brough and Bob Chilcott 2010 to 2013, and have given several world Jennifer Adams-Barbaro Lynette Alcántara † Christopher Bowen † Jeremy Birchall * Conductor Laureate Stephen Cleobury premieres of his works. Margaret Feaviour Margaret Cameron † Jon English * Simon Birchall * Jacqueline Fox † Edward Goater † Michael Bundy † Carolyn Foulkes * The BBC Singers hold a unique position in With nearly all concerts broadcast on BBC Micaela Haslam Judith Harris * Stephen Jeffes † Stephen Charlesworth British musical life. Performing everything Radio 3, the BBC Singers have the highest Eleanor Meynell * Rebecca Lodge * Robert Johnston Charles Gibbs † Elizabeth Poole Ksynia Loeffler † Ian Kennedy * Jamie W Hall † from Byrd to Birtwistle, Tallis to Takemitsu, broadcast profile of any choir. Alison Smart † Siân Menna * Vernon Kirk * Stuart MacIntyre * their versatility is second to none. The choir’s Emma Tring † Deborah Miles-Johnson Neil MacKenzie † Paul Parfitt * unrivalled expertise in performing the best of This world-class ensemble is committed to Cherith Millburn-Fryer † Andrew Murgatroyd Adrian Peacock † contemporary music has brought about creative sharing its enthusiasm and creative expertise Alison Place * David Roy * Edward Price relationships with some of the most important through its nationwide outreach programme. Penny Vickers * composers and conductors of the 20th and This includes frequent collaborations with 21st centuries, including Poulenc, Britten, Sir schoolchildren, youth choirs and the amateur * = 2003 recording only † = 2012 recording only and Sir . choral community, as well as with the professional composers, singers and conductors The BBC Singers perform all over the UK and of tomorrow. Regular events include a series of abroad, working regularly with the BBC’s own Come and Sing days open to amateur singers. orchestras as well as a number of period- instrument and contemporary music ensembles, To find out where you can see the BBC Singers and they play an important role in the BBC live and for tickets, visit .co.uk/bbcsingers. Proms each year. The ensemble performs You can also sign up for our e-newsletter on regularly in St Paul’s Knightsbridge, St Giles’ our homepage. Cripplegate and Milton Court in London. Follow us: The BBC Singers give frequent performances facebook.com/bbcsingers with Chief Conductor David Hill, Principal Guest twitter.com/bbcsingers conductors Paul Brough and Bob Chilcott as well as Conductor Laureate Stephen Cleobury. © Sophie Laslett

- 8 - - 9 - STEPHEN CLEOBURY Choir, broadening the daily service repertoire, As a choral clinician and workshop leader Other major 20th-century works performed commissioning new music from leading Stephen Cleobury has worked with choirs from include Messiaen’s Cinq Rechants, Birtwistle’s Stephen Cleobury has since 1982 been composers, and developing its activities all over the world, either welcoming them to ...agm... and Henze’s The Raft of the Medusa associated with one of the world’s most in broadcasting, recording and touring. He Cambridge or visiting their country, often as a with the BBC Singers and BBC Symphony famous choirs, that of King’s College, Cambridge. has conceived and introduced the highly judge in a choral competition. Performances as Orchestra. He conducted Berio’s Coro with His work at King’s has brought him into successful annual festival, Easter at King’s, an organ recitalist also find him travelling the the BBC Singers and London Sinfonietta at La fruitful relationships with many leading from which the BBC regularly broadcasts, world. His work as an arranger of choral music Scala, Milan in 1996. Concert performances orchestras and soloists, among them the as well as a series of high-profile is well known, and includes carols, folksongs with the BBC Singers included concerts at Academy of Ancient Music, the Britten Sinfonia performances throughout the year, Concerts and descants. Most recently his music has the Aldeburgh Festival, as well as Cologne, and the Philharmonia. From 1983 to 2009 he at King’s. been published by Edition Peters. Frankfurt, Helsinki and Warsaw. Simon Joly was Conductor of the Cambridge University Musical Society, a role in which he has not www.stephencleobury.com only conducted many orchestral works, but most of the major works for chorus and orchestra. SIMON JOLY

Between 1995 and 2007 he was Chief Conductor Simon Joly was Associate Conductor of the of the BBC Singers and since then has been BBC Singers from 1981 to 1988 and their Conductor Laureate. With the Singers he relished Principal Conductor from 1989 to 1995. He the opportunity to showcase challenging conducted an enormous repertoire with them, contemporary music and gave a number of specialising in contemporary repertoire. He important premieres, including Giles Swayne’s conducted premieres of works by Luciano Berio, Havoc, Edward Cowie’s Gaia, and Francis , Peter Maxwell Davies, David Grier’s Passion, all these with the distinguished Bedford, and among many others. ensemble, Endymion. His many recordings Performances with the BBC Singers at the with the Singers include albums of Tippett, Proms included Stravinsky’s Les Noces, Steve Richard Strauss and Bach. Reich’s The Desert Music and Giles Swayne’s Cry; other performances included Brahms’ Fest und At King’s, he has sought to maintain and Gedenksprüche, Schoenberg’s Friede auf Erden enhance the reputation of the renowned and Richard Strauss’s Der Abend. © Gerald Place

- 10 - - 11 - conducted many premieres, including Iannis ENDYMION “The brilliant Endymion” (Sunday Times) delivers STEPHEN PRESTON Xenakis’s Sea Nymphs, written for the BBC world-class performances of chamber music Singers’ 70th anniversary concert in September Stacey Dixon cor anglais, oboe throughout London, the UK and abroad. They Stephen Preston is one of the leading musicians 1994. His recordings with the BBC Singers Barnaby Robson clarinet perform regularly at venues including Wigmore in the pioneering development of early music include a disc for Collins Classics of Sir Peter Tim Jackson horn Hall, Southbank Centre, the BBC Proms, and performance in the UK and Europe, and one of Maxwell Davies’ choral works, IKONS, a CD of Simon Limbrick percussion the Cheltenham and Spitalfields Festivals. its most acclaimed figures. He established a Sir John Tavener’s choral works, and he has Helen Tunstall harp They have toured in Austria, Ireland, Mexico, worldwide reputation for his groundbreaking solo recorded both of Bantock’s Choral Symphonies Stephen Guttman celesta Spain, Finland and Italy and for many years and ensemble performances and recordings on with the BBC Singers. Alastair Ross harpsichord were resident at Blackheath Concert Halls. In historical flutes. Stephen Betteridge piano 2009 they celebrated their 30th birthday He has conducted BBC performances of Catherine Manson violin with 20 new commissions, education projects In 2012 Stephen formed Trio Aporia with several operatic rarities, including Max Brand’s Asdis Valdimarsdottir viola and 13 concerts in four days at Kings innovative musicians Jane Chapman (harpsichord) Maschinist Hopkins and Weber’s early work Robert Baily cello Place. They have made many recordings and and Richard Boothby (viola da gamba), Peter Schmoll. Stephen Williams double Bass their latest disc, Sound Census, was released dedicated to the unbounded exploration of in March 2010. 2011 featured a major ‘historical’ instruments in the context of 21st- collaboration with EXAUDI, a three-day festival century music-making through the creation of chamber music by Shostakovich and of a new and experimental repertoire. He is Schnittke at Kings Place and the UK premiere also exploring a contemporary incarnation of of Elliott Carter’s Clarinet Quintet. the one-keyed flute completely developed and completely redesigned by Canadian maker Find out more about Endymion at Jean-François Beaudin. Edward Cowie is one of www.endymion.org.uk the first composers to contribute to Trio Aporia’s unfolding project.

2004 saw the completion of Preston’s PhD research project into birdsong as a model for new techniques and improvisation with the baroque flute, which he undertook with Edward Cowie. This led to his developing Ecosonics – an © Doddy Nash

- 12 - - 13 - approach to improvisation based on birdsong and biophonic communication – and the formation of the Ecosonic Ensemble which, with cellist/composer Thomas Gardner became the electro-acoustic collective, Automatic BBC is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corporation and is used under license. Writing Circle. BBC ©BBC 1996. Produced in association with BBC Radio 3 For many years prior to this Stephen’s flute- playing career took a background role while he Gesangbuch. 1975-76. Published by Schott London pursued a passionate interest in dance and The Soft Complaining Flute. 2003. Published by United Music Publishers. choreography. During this period he formed Lyrebird Motet. 2002. Published by United Music Publishers. Bell Bird Motet. 2011. Published by United Music Publishers. two dance companies, the first to explore historical dance and the second to investigate Bell Bird Motet, The Soft Complaing Flute & Lyrebird Motet recorded in Studio 1, BBC Maida Vale, on 13 January 2012. Gesangbuch recorded in Phoenix Sound, Wembley, on 6 June 2003. the historical and contemporary dancing body. Producer - Michael Emery Stephen’s contributions to flute playing were Recording Engineers - Paul Waton (2003), Simon Hancock (2012) recognized in 2006 with a Lifetime Achievement Digital Editing - Simon Hancock and Marvin Ware Award bestowed on him by America’s National Illustrations on Pages 3 to 5 - © Edward Cowie. Flute Association. He teaches at the Royal Northern Cover Image - Shutterstock Design and Artwork - Woven Design College of Music, Manchester and Trinity Laban www.wovendesign.co.uk College of Music & Dance, London. P 2013 The copyright in the recording and programme are owned by the BBC © 2013 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd www.trioaporia.com Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording of Signum Compact Discs constitutes an infringement of copyright and will www.stephenpreston-ecosonics.com render the infringer liable to an action by law. Licences for public performances or broadcasting may be obtained from Phonographic Performance Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, www.automaticwritingcircle.org.uk photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Signum Records Ltd.

SignumClassics, Signum Records Ltd., Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, UK. +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 E-mail: [email protected] www.signumrecords.com

- 14 - - 15 - ALSO AVAILABLE on signumclassics

Judith Bingham: Remoter Worlds Richard Rodney Bennett: My Dancing Day BBC Singers, David Hill BBC Singers, Paul Brough

SIGCD144 SIGCD293

“Under David Hill’s direction, this superb choir gives precise, “With the Singers’ impeccable intonation and warm vocal passionate and powerful readings.” blend, this CD is a must-buy for anyone interested in contemporary The Times British choral music.” Choir & Organ ★★★★★

Available through most record stores and at www.signumrecords.com For more information call +44 (0) 20 8997 4000

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SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD331

EDWARD COWIE GESANGBUCH COWIE: GESANGBUCH GESANGBUCH COWIE: 1 Bell Bird Motet (2011) [8.12] BBC Singers Stephen Cleobury conductor

2 The Soft Complaining Flute (2003) [6.44] BBC Singers Stephen Preston baroque flute Stephen Cleobury conductor

BBC SINGERS Gesangbuch (1975-6) BBC SINGERS 3 Herbstlich - Eaves Wood [10.03] STEPHEN CLEOBURY, 4 Winterlied - Martinmere [10.11] SIMON JOLY 5 Habichtswald - Spring [8.16] ENDYMION SINGERS BBC STEPHEN PRESTON 6 Stimmungsbild - Hest Bank [13.33] BBC Singers Endymion Simon Joly conductor

7 Lyre Bird Motet (2002) [7.14] BBC is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corportation and is BBC Singers used under license. Stephen Cleobury conductor BBC © BBC 1996. COWIE: GESANGBUCH Total timings: [64.40]

LC15723

Signum Records Ltd, Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, SIGCD331 CLASSICS Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, United Kingdom. P 2013 BBC DDD SIGCD331 © 2013 Signum Records www.signumrecords.com 24 bit digital recording 6 35212 03312 8 SIGNUM