STEPHEN DODGSON - The Selevan Story - a selection
of chamber works with guitar(s)
Promenade (two guitars) (1988)
Capriccio (Flute and guitar) (1980)
Divertissement (violin and guitar ensemble) (1983)
Follow the Star (three guitars) (1979)
Hymnus de Sancto Stephano (soprano and guitar ensemble)
(1983)
The Selevan Story (flute, violin, two guitars, guitar ensemble)
(1992)
The St Levan Ensemble
rec Sharpham House, Devon
30 Sept-2 Oct 1994 ESG Records (no number - order direct from supplier)
This disc arises from Dodgson's association (dating back to 1984) with the
Prussia Cove International Guitar Seminar (For such a Cornish event how
surprising that the recording was made in Devon). Whether in the relaxed
amble of Promenade I or the more rapt reaches of Follow the Star
(a fantasy on a Dutch carol) there is no doubting Dodgson's imagination-lit
skills. The disc contains all Dodgson's music for guitar ensemble except
for Personent Hodie (or it did as of 1994). The economy of means and
expression is typical of the composer's fastidious eloquence. This is an
obvious virtue at one level but at another the music makes for demanding
listening. Rewards are surely yielded after repeat hearings (Philip Jones
comments on this on the booklet for the orchestral disc) but initial impressions
may seem unpromising. The plaintive plangency (the guitar is good at this
sort of thing) of Pastoral (track 14) from The Selevan Story is
instantly accessible and is well worth sampling to hear the best of this
anthology.
Reviewer
Rob Barnett
For further information about this disc or about the music of Stephen Dodgson
please contact: janeclark@intune.co.uk
ESG Records (no number - order direct from supplier)
Tel/Fax +44 (0) 1392 254097
e-mail: esgmusic@eclipse.co.uk
www.eclipse.co.uk/esgmusic
