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CTP Template: CD_DPS1 COLOURS Compact Disc Booklet: Double Page Spread CYAN MAGENTA Customer: SignumClassics YELLOW Catalogue No. SIGCD064 BLACK Job Title: Differnt Trains SIGCD064 booklet Page Nos. ALSO on signumclassics Michael Nyman: Cantos Sagrados: Elena Kats-Chernin: Music for Two Pianos SIGCD506 The Music of James MacMillan SIGCD507 Ragtime & Blue SIGCD058 “This duo is never less than vital, bold and “Choral works that show MacMillan’s powerful Elena Kats-Chernin is a composer who defies cat- committed” International Record Review voice at its most engaging” The Gramophone egorisation. A cornucopia of rags, blues and heart-melting melodies, these small vessels of fine feelings offer an intimate view into the com- poser’s heart. Available through most record stores and at www.signumrecords.com. For more information call +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 CTP Template: CD_DPS1 COLOURS Compact Disc Booklet: Double Page Spread CYAN MAGENTA Customer: SignumClassics YELLOW Catalogue No. SIGCD064 BLACK Job Title: Differnt Trains SIGCD064 booklet Page Nos. different trains Triple Quartet 1. I [7.11] 2. II [4.05] 3. III [3.31] 4. Duet [5.14] Different Trains 5. America - Before the war [9.00] 6. Europe - During the war [7.29] 7. After the war [10.25] Total Time [46.59] Two major international forces at the leading edge of contemporary music – the Smith Quartet and American composer Steve Reich - come together for new recordings of three of his most inspiring works: Triple Quartet for three string quartets, Reich’s personal dedication to the late Yehudi Menuhin, Duet, and the haunting Different Trains for string quartet and electronic tape. Steve Reich - The Smith Quartet www.signumrecords.com www.stevereich.com www.smithquartet.com - 11 - CTP Template: CD_DPS1 COLOURS Compact Disc Booklet: Double Page Spread CYAN MAGENTA Customer: SignumClassics YELLOW Catalogue No. SIGCD064 BLACK Job Title: Differnt Trains SIGCD064 booklet Page Nos. The Smith’s innovative approach and dedication to new In addition to regular broadcasts with the BBC they different trains music was recognised in 1994 when they were finalists in have played on commercial CDs including Good Medicine the prestigious Prudential Award for the Arts. (Glissando), Karl Jenkins’ Diamond Music (Sony), Graham Fitkin’s Slow (Decca), Steve Martland’s Patrol (BMG), and a note from the composer Their busy touring schedule has taken them as far a field the BBC’s Late Junction Label. as North and South America, Scandinavia and the Far It has become clear in the last 30 years that new string generated the melodic content of the piece. It also East. They have appeared regularly at Europe’s leading www.smithquartet.com quartets have appeared who have completely changed introduced an element of music theater into the string festivals including La Biennale in Venezia, The Huddersfield the nature of what that traditional ensemble was about. quartet literature. Finally, it used prerecorded string Contemporary Music Festival, The City of London Festival, The Smith Quartet is at the forefront of this historical quartets in addition to the live quartet to change the The Vale of Glamorgan festival and the Cheltenham change. New repertoire, some of it commissioned by the single quartet into three or sometimes four quartets all Festival (where they gave the UK premiere of Reich’s quartet and the use of various kinds of electronics to playing simultaneously. This idea was then used by itself, Triple Quartet). expand the very nature of the music they play are all without the use of prerecorded voices, to produce Triple clearly in evidence. I am enormously pleased with the Quartet. The Smith Quartet has made these pieces their interest the Smith Quartet has taken in my own music own by making their own prerecorded tapes via computer which has been a part of this sea change in the string and elegantly performs them here with clarity and intensity. quartet literature. Different Trains (1988) introduced prerecorded speaking voices whose speech melody Steve Reich - May 2005 Different Trains: Recorded between January and February 2005 at P 2005 The copyright in this recording is owned by Signum Records Ltd. TCM Studios, London, UK C 2005 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd. Engineered and mixed by David Sheppard Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording of Signum Compact Produced by the Smith Quartet Discs constitutes an infringement of copyright and will render the infringer liable to an action by law. Licences for public performances or broadcasting may be obtained from Phonographic triple quartet a CD of the complete Schnittke string quartets. I had Backing track recorded in January and February 2005 Performance Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval never heard a note of his music. In listening to his at TCM Studios by David Sheppard system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Signum Records Ltd. Triple Quartet is for three string quartets, all of which on quartets I was struck by his virtuosity and moved by the Triple Quartet and Duet: this recording are played by the Smith Quartet. incredible Mesto of his Second Quartet. Listening to the Recorded on June 4, 5, 6 and 7 2005 “density” of his music goaded me to thicken my own plot Konk Studios, London, UK SignumClassics, Signum Records Ltd., Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, UK +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 E-mail: [email protected] harmonically and melodically. Rhythmically, the second Engineered by Mike Hatch The initial inspiration for the piece comes from the last movement of Bartók’s Fourth Quartet. While no musical and third quartets play in conflicting values partly Produced by Martin Cotton www.signumrecords.com material is taken from the Bartók, its energy was my inspired by Michael Gordon’s Yo Shakespeare. The result, www.stevereich.com Editing and Mastering - Limo Hearn starting point. While working on Triple Quartet, two other all in all, is a piece considerably more dissonant and Artwork and Design - Woven Design www.smithquartet.com composers found their way into my consciousness. As I expressionistic than expected. Cover image - Getty Images www.soundintermedia.co.uk was beginning the piece my friend Betty Freeman sent me - 10 - - 3 - CTP Template: CD_DPS1 COLOURS Compact Disc Booklet: Double Page Spread CYAN MAGENTA Customer: SignumClassics YELLOW Catalogue No. SIGCD064 BLACK Job Title: Differnt Trains SIGCD064 booklet Page Nos. The piece is in three movements (fast-slow-fast) and is duet The Smith Quartet organized harmonically on four dominant chords in minor keys a minor third apart: E minor, G minor, B-flat minor, Duet was composed in 1994 and is dedicated to Yehudi Since its formation in 1988, the Smith Quartet has been C-sharp minor, and then returning to E minor to form a Menuhin and to those ideals of international understanding closely associated with the performance of Steve Reich’s cycle. The first movement goes through this harmonic which Sir Yehudi practiced throughout his life. The piece music. None more so than with his haunting work cycle twice with a section about one minute long on each is approximately five minutes in length. In this version Different Trains which they have performed all over the of the four dominant chords. The result is a kind of performed by the Smith Quartet it is scored for two solo world, not only on the concert platform but with the variation form. violins four violas and four celli. Beginning and ending in renowned Siobhan Davies Dance Company, and as part of F the music is built around simple unison canons the BBC’s specially commissioned Holocaust – A Musical Rhythmically the first movement has the second and between the two violins who, from time to time, slightly Memorial Film from Auschwitz, which marked the 60th third quartet playing interlocking chords while the first vary the rhythmic distance between their two voices. anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp. quartet plays longer melodies in canon between the first violin and viola against the second violin and cello. Duet was commissioned by the Gstaad Festival for Yehudi As well as the works of Steve Reich, the quartet is Menuhin and The Gstaad Festival Orchestra. dedicated to the development and performance of new The slow movement is more completely contrapuntal with music and has built a repertoire by some of the world’s musicians Andy Sheppard and John Taylor have all a long slow melody in canon eventually in all 12 voices. most exciting composers, establishing an international worked with the group. Of particular note has been the It stays in E minor throughout. reputation for their dynamic style and original approach quartet’s relationship with the jazz artist Django Bates, to contemporary music. Kevin Volans, Michael Nyman, which has produced the effervescent quartet, Pond The third movement resumes the original fast tempo and Graham Fitkin, Django Bates, Stephen Montague, Karl Life (1993), a film for Britain’s Channel 4 TV and the maintains the harmonic chord cycle, but modulates back Jenkins, Sally Beamish, Michael Daugherty, Howard critically acclaimed album you live and learn… and forth between keys more rapidly. The final section of Skempton and Michael Finnissy are amongst many whom apparently with Bates’ own group Human Chain. The the movement is in the initial key of E minor, and there have written for them. To date they have premiered over quartet has also featured in the Barbican’s American the piece finally cadences. 100 new works. Pioneers series alongside Britpop superheroes Pulp in a sell out performance of Terry Riley’s In C, with the Triple Quartet was commissioned for the Kronos Quartet It is the aim of the quartet to bring contemporary music composer at the piano.
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