David MATTHEWS
In the Dark Time; Chaconne
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Jac
van Steen
NMC D067 [47.28]
Crotchet
AmazonUK
AmazonUS
There was a time when David was seen as the more conservative of the Matthews
brothers, somewhat in the shadow of Colin, moving spirit of the NMC label
and producer of this fine CD. But now, with the current swing against modernism,
is David's time and in these two major works for large orchestra, both
underpinned by tonality. The composer provides his own commentaries on these
symphonic poems, as he thinks of them. In the Dark Time (1984-85)
works out the possibilities inherent in a complex chord which combines Bb,
D & A triads. There is a four-note motive (G, Ab, Bb & D) and Matthews
helps those of us with the ears to hear such technicalities to map the stages
of their transformations in concert with the passing seasons from October
to March, the span of its composition. Chaconne (1987) evokes
the carnage of a historic battle fought long ago in a (now) idyllic English
pastoral countryside. The form is tight and the two chaconnes are easily
recognisable as successors to those of Bach & Brahms. Fine studio recordings
made at BBC Maida Vale in 1998, recommended unreservedly. You will certainly
want to play these two major works, both underpinned by tonality, more than
once, so no worry about short total timing.
Peter Grahame Woolf
See also review by Gary Higginson
