15 Reasons why you must check out Philip Sawyers 3rd Symphony on @NimbusRecords
1.
“Sawyers is a natural symphonist… This Symphony, like the song- cycle, is a masterpiece” Robert Matthew-Walker- @ClassicalSource .https://t.co/T5yA8MyQKghttps://t.co/0iT98n0aZD— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
2.
“… a symphony about struggle, with tension running very high in a dramatic first movement followed by an intensely personal Adagio…a work that rewards repeated and attentive hearings” Henry Fogel (former President @chicagosymphony) Fanfarehttps://t.co/tKlhUNFiU8— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
3.
“a substantial and distinctive contribution to the genre, and it was here presented in a compelling reading, impressively disciplined and with a passionate intensity maintained across its 40-minute span.” Gavin Dixon- Bachtrack. https://t.co/c9AdAB4HWm pic.twitter.com/QAx48hcRJl— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
4.
“a gripping listen.. the way in which a tonal brass chorale is incorporated into a largely serial finale is ingenious in the extreme. This isn’t a glib journey from darkness to light” Graham Rickson – @theartsdesk https://t.co/sQudKAwknUhttps://t.co/Du1OzVOLxk— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
5.
“a gritty, often powerful work yet…Very fine performances, excellently recorded” Brian Wilson – @MusicWebInt https://t.co/jZXNvNi6MN— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
6.
“Sawyers’ mastery of thematic development, using modal, tonal, contrapuntal and serial techniques is considerably developed here, and the tautness and drama of the symphonic argument correspondingly increased” Records Internationalhttps://t.co/uoVcUIgj99— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
7.
“Sawyers’ Third Symphony is a tremendously impressive accomplishment. If the subsequent commissions by ‘The 21st C. Symphony Project’ turn out to be only half as good, it will still be a cause for celebration.” @MartinToccata Musical Opinionhttps://t.co/QeUJK3Ky2d pic.twitter.com/oVU8rC1F2V— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
8.
” undoubtedly one of the finest British symphonies of recent years… the long, visionary Adagio is its emotional heart, music of searing intensity, yet the expressive fulcrum lies rather in the Arnold-like Intermezzo, full of disarming charm and gentle humour….cont pic.twitter.com/918PasVYx7— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
8. cont
The impact is overwhelming… Great music, great performances…” Guy Rickards- Gramophone2017 CRITICS’ CHOICE https://t.co/ZHQVpfdlRUhttps://t.co/nmnERkNVyR pic.twitter.com/7P7t44JLit
— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
9.
“I have no reservations in pronouncing this a very fine work indeed and one which deserves a place in the any orchestra’s repertoire.” Gary Higginson- @MusicWebInt https://t.co/Zt3I4siAmE@amazonmusic https://t.co/Du1OzVOLxk— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
10.
“Philip Sawyers’s Third Symphony is a major new work from a distinctive voice in British music… a work of impressive symphonic unity and drama.” Gavin Dixon- Fanfare, @saquabote @ClassicalCD https://t.co/nA0M08mqbWBuy direct from ESOhttps://t.co/kLDiGMJtnn
— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
11.
“…this is an impressively expressive piece of sustained writing with more lyrical interludes balancing the power of the massed instrumental passages.” Nick Barnard- @MusicWebInthttps://t.co/N3cuJS2OgEhttps://t.co/zsknNmsVHJ— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
12.
““…the journey from “darkness to light” appears in all its spectacular clarity…@kennethwoods knows how to soar in climaxes and to shape the musical phrase to the slightest detail. Woods draws a committed and crisp playing.” @The_music_gala https://t.co/b8nm9Bc4YZ— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
13.
“a fabulously tidal symphony, w/ wild expanses of differing mood. Pummelled strings rise turbulent beneath great brass chords: the entire fisting orchestra soars, confident, triumphant & united at last.” @McVeighAlice @mvdaily https://t.co/Gf5N7yhsmahttps://t.co/x7CDIZAXQE— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
14.
“5 *s… his Symphony No.3 – from 2015 – is his finest work yet. It’s an imposing four-movement 38 minute work tightly constructed and trenchantly argued but, in its long lyrical Adagio, reveals a passionately beating heart.” Norman Stinchecombhttps://t.co/Du1OzVOLxk— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
15.
“Terrific music like this renews my faith in the symphony as a genre… a feeling of reconciliation worthy of the Mahler 10th.” Don O’Connor – American Record Guidehttps://t.co/zk2nPI5csXhttps://t.co/c9oScBYF4k#Mahler #gustavmahler— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018
We hope this thread inspires some of you to check out this very important new symphony, the first work in our 21st Century Symphony Project.
Stay tuned for David Matthews 9th Symphony, coming on CD in 2019. pic.twitter.com/jAvIwHEP4p
— EnglishSymphonyOrch (@EnglishSymphon) December 1, 2018