NORTHERN CELLO Jean Sibelius Peteris Vasks ZOE KNIGHTON Four Pieces for Cello and Piano, Op

ZOE KNIGHTON | IAN MUNRO NORTHERN CELLO Jean Sibelius Peteris Vasks ZOE KNIGHTON Four pieces for cello and piano, Op. 78 Gramata Cellam 6 Impromptu 2’13” (for solo cello) IAN MUNRO 7 Romance 3’45” 10 Fortissimo 8 Religioso 5’31” marcatissim 5’39” NORTHERN 9 Rigaudon 2’34” 11 Pianissimo CELLO dolcissimo 6’29” Arvo Pärt Edvard Grieg 12 Fratres 12’35” Cello Sonata in A minor, Op. 36 1 Allegro agitato 10’19” 2 Andante molto tranquillo 6’49” 3 Allegro 12’42” Edvard Grieg Elegiac melodies, Op. 34 4 Herzwunden 3’41” 5 Letzter Frühling 5’00” P 2017 Move Records move.com.au frightfully dull) and Casals (whom he admired intensely). It was a performance by our very own Percy Grainger and Herman Sandby that was given for Grieg himself that showed the work’s true potential. “There were things that Grainger got much more out of than I myself did and on the whole, I received a grand lesson.” were the notes from his diary at the time. The first movement sways with true romantic turbulence and grandeur. The second movement uses themes from his own incidental music originally scored for four cellos to a play about King Sigurd Jorsalfar of Norway prompting the comments of Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) has had its share of bad press since a lack of originality (which, Cello Sonata in A minor, Op. 36 the premiere (criticisms over the if it were a crime, most composers structure, the imposed sense of would be found guilty) and the third Chamber works are often written nationalism and the use of his own is guilty of the nationalism charge with someone special in mind and themes to source material) but with a delightfully vigorous folk both Sibelius and Grieg had brothers the evidence from the performers dance. In answer to the patriotism who were amateur cellists accounting sharing their name with the early in his compositions, Grieg is famous for these compositions. Grieg’s performances prove its place in the for saying, “music which matters, relationship with his brother (John) canon and the obvious warmth and however national it may be, is lifted was rather estranged and the sonata affection that cellists have for this high above the purely national level.” was premiered in 1883 with Grieg at deliciously over-the-top romantic the piano and not his brother, but saga that comprises the three His two Elegiac melodies are his brother’s teacher, Julius Klengel, movements. Grieg himself played delightful examples of the miniatures at the cello. This particular sonata it with Piatti (whom he thought for which he was so famous. They were written in 1880 after a bout of was given to illness. The inspiration to return to her at the age work came from a nationalist poet, of 12. From all Aasmund Olafsson Vinje who wrote accounts, Sibelius largely of Norwegian rural life. These was a truly gifted two melodies are from two songs violinist playing included in his Op. 33 set and set regularly in string them for string orchestra with brilliant quartets but orchestration. The first tells of the failing an audition strength of faith and how adversity for the Vienna and the wounds of life will not destroy Philharmonic it. The second, Last spring tells of because he was the joy and rebirth of spring with the too nervous. knowledge that one may not live to see another. With all these pieces being written during WWI, there is an Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) air of optimism Four pieces for violin (or cello) and and also a sense of nationalism in piano Op. 78 (1915-17) the Rigaudon. Sibelius apparently asked himself if the Romance was too Three of these four pieces were traditional but despite this, it is one of written originally for violin. It was his most popular short works. the Religioso (1917) that was written specifically for his brother Christian in thanks for his recovery from illness suspected to have been pernicious anaemia. This illness was fatal in 1922. Christian was a very good cellist, chosen to work with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra but was Professor of neurology and psychiatry and too busy to perform. Sibelius’ grand-daughter performed this religioso at Aino Sibelius’ funeral in 1969 on Sibelius’ own violin that Peteris Vasks (b. 1946) an intense dialogue between the two with and without solo violin, for Gremata Cellam as the battle of power and ideas is wind octet and percussion, for string constantly explored. quartet, and for eight cellos.) and Peteris Vasks uses a 6 bar pattern that is repeated was born in Vasks has described the cello as “his throughout with an emphasis on Latvia and inner voice”. He has written a number patterning and moving to new lived through of works for cello including two cello tonal levels by thirds. Each section the Russian concertos and has explored the has its own character based on the occupation. sonorities of combining the human rhythmic patterns, united by the same Vasks has voice with the sound of the cello. harmonic progression. repeatedly made reference to One can hear his study of Gregorian the suffering Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) and orthodox chant as a very religious that the Latvian Fratres man. Like Vasks, he suffered under people have a Soviet regime in Estonia and after experienced and This work uses angering the authorities with his even the creative repression. the technique earlier styles, he found a quieter “tintinnabulation” defiance in his music. This became the catalyst for which was compositions from an early age developed and at 10 years old, he had already by Pärt. He composed a freedom-fighting song is quoted as for those who had been expelled saying, “I have from their houses overnight and discovered that it sent to detention camps. Most is enough when notably, his brass quintet “Music a single note is beautifully played. for Fleeting Birds” which was This one note, or a moment of silence, composed in 1977 exhibited the comforts me. I work with very few yearning hope for freedom of travel elements - with one voice, with two which was forbidden throughout voices. I build with the most primitive the Soviet occupation. Written materials - with the triad, with one one year later, this work holds specific tonality. The three notes of a that same yearning and angst. triad are like bells. And that is why I The same frustration and sense of call it tintinnabulation.” longing. With the two movements at opposing ends of the dynamic and Written in 1977, this work has had expressive possibilities one can find many forms (strings and percussion, prize at the Leeds International Piano performed concerti by Ravel, Munro, Competition in 1987 established his Mozart, Kats-Chernin, Gershwin and international profile. Edwards, toured to the UK, Russia, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Uzbekistan After completing his early training in and throughout Australia and New Melbourne under the guidance of Roy Zealand in recitals, chamber music Shepherd, a pupil of Alfred Cortot, and concerto performances. and furthered his studies in Vienna, London and Italy with Noretta Conci, Increasingly in demand as a Guido Agosti and Michele Campanella, composer, he was Featured Composer his international career began in the for Musica Viva in 2011. His flute UK, where he has performed with concerto and song cycle ‘Three birds’ the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, receive their premieres in 2016 with Philharmonia, English Chamber the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, London Mozart Players, and Australia Ensemble respectively. BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and broadcast widely for the BBC. Elsewhere, he has performed with orchestras in Poland, Italy, Portugal, Russia, the USA, Ian Munro China, New Zealand and all the major orchestras in Australia in over sixty Ian Munro has emerged over recent piano concerti. A widely experienced years as one of Australia’s most chamber musician, Ian joined the distinguished and awarded musicians, acclaimed Australia Ensemble in with a career that has taken him Sydney in 2000. to thirty countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia. His Ian has recorded CDs for ABC award in 2003 of Premier Grand Prix Classics, Hyperion, Cala, Naxos, at the Queen Elisabeth International Marco Polo, Tall Poppies and the Competition for composers UK label Warehouse. Recent discs (Belgium) is a unique achievement the collected music by Tasmanian for an Australian and follows on from composer Katharine Parker and the multiple prizes in international piano piano concerto by Elena Kats-Chernin, competitions in Spain (Maria Canals), commissioned for Ian Munro by the Italy (Busoni), Portugal (Vianna da Sydney Symphony Orchestra. During Motta) and the UK, where his second the last few concert seasons Ian has Zoe went on to establish herself as Recorded at Move Records studio in one of the country’s most sought July and November 2016 after cellists. Having studied with Recording: Christian Wojtowicz, Michel Strauss Vaughan McAlley and Martin Wright (Paris) Nelson Cooke, and Angela Editing: Vaughan McAlley Seargeant, she has continued this Mastering: Martin Wright legacy by teaching at The University Photo of Zoe Knighton: Nicholas Purcell of Melbourne, Victorian College of Photo of Ian Munro: Patrick Boland the Arts, Monash University, The Photo of Ian and Zoe: University of Tasmania, The Australian Finley Knighton–Collinson Youth Orchestra, The Victorian All other photos: Martin Wright Amateur Chamber Music Society as well as other masterclasses and The Sibelius monument (1967) on workshops. the front cover is located in Helsinki, Finland. The monument is composed Zoe has played numerous concertos of 600 stainless steel pipes and was with Melbourne Orchestras and designed by Eila Hiltunen.

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