This is a collection
of the composer's chamber works for
cello and piano; two sonatas, the meditation
Kiss on Wood - inspired by the
devotional practice of venerating a
relic of the cross - and the children's
pieces collectively titled Northern
Skies.
The works on this disc
illustrate the composer's main inspirations:
Scottish culture and landscape, and
his Catholic faith. In that regard,
it is - despite its modest length -
quite a representative survey. Macmillan
writes well, and is perhaps better known
for, his works for orchestral forces
such as The Confession of Isobel
Gowdie. This disc shows a different
side to his compositional talents, and
is therefore a contrast to, rather than
a summary of, his better known works.
The two Sonatas for
cello and piano, written in 1998 and
2000 respectively, mirror each other
structurally. The first - which opens
the disc - uses another familiar concern
of Macmillan's: reflected or perceived
image. An example can be found in as
As Others See Us. The First Sonata’s
sections are subtitled 'Face'
and 'Image'. The work opens attractively
with a warm open and mellow theme on
the cello and a light, tinkling accompaniment
on the piano. This which builds to a
dance-like theme for that instrument,
whilst the cello becomes melancholy
and doleful, for a time taking an accompanying
role. Dissonance and uncertainty develop
as the first movement unfolds. The instruments
have seemingly independent paths from
each other which cross on occasions.
In the second movement a stirring opening
fades suddenly, then this theme for
the cello makes a brief reappearance
before the piano comes to the fore in
a slow and delicate section. The cello
gradually re-enters in its higher registers,
leading to a conclusion in which the
music speeds up and becomes increasingly
insistent before in the final bars dissolving
away abruptly to almost nothing.
The Second Sonata is
dissonant and full of uncertainty from
the start. It develops unevenly and
questioningly, with the balance of power
shifting between the instruments as
the work unfolds compactly before coming
to an abrupt end after a piano solo
which erupts suddenly out of nowhere.
'Northern Skies'
is a collection of seven pieces suitable
for children, inspired by Celtic scenes
and traditions. The performers here
dedicate it to their own young children.
The components are necessarily straightforward
but all have simple appeal and a strong
rhythm. I particularly like the quizzical
'Shifting Sands' and the
rattling 'Sabre Dance'.
The cello sonatas have
already been recorded in a well played
and keenly priced disc from Naxos. Although
the playing here is also good, and the
recording is more recent and of high
quality, I am not sure whether the inclusion
of the children's pieces would tempt
the buyer to purchase this more expensive
recording in preference.
The short work Kiss
on Wood - placed between the two
sonatas - is actually my favourite track
of the disc. It has reminded me how
much I like some of Macmillan's miniatures
… such as those on Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
- Catalyst LC 0316. It is unashamedly
devotional, creating a sense of the
infinite in what is only a very short
span. This is an achievement in itself;
altogether a truly beautiful musical
gem. However, lovely though it is, it
is unlikely to be the reason why I would
go out and buy a duplicate recording
of the sonatas if I already owned the
Naxos disc.
Listening to this disc
might well tempt the hearer to enquire
further into Macmillan's work, either
recorded or in performance. This applies
particularly to his full length concerto
for the cello in which he is seen to
write ably and with sensitivity.
Julie Williams
for details
Henri Demarquette (cello); Graham Scott
(piano). 
