Maxwell Davies: Linguae Ignis & Vesalii Icones
Vittorio Ceccanti (solo cello)
Contempoartensemble, Mauro Ceccanti
prepare to be dazzled, amused and bemused. From the tranquillity of the cello's plainsong in Linguae Ignis (a world premiere recording) to microtonal and prepared-piano jazz and blues in the...
Maxwell Davies: Linguae Ignis & Vesalii Icones
Vittorio Ceccanti (solo cello)
Contempoartensemble, Mauro Ceccanti
Purchase product
prepare to be dazzled, amused and bemused. From the tranquillity of the cello's plainsong in Linguae Ignis (a world premiere recording) to microtonal and prepared-piano jazz and blues in the...
About
A new disc of instrumental works from the Master of the Queen’s Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
Linguae Ignis is an instrumental motet for cello and ensemble, and was premièred in 2002 by the forces that perform it on this disc. This beautiful, elegiac work sees Maxwell Davies entwining two Pentecostal Plainchants around each other, and gradually generating rich dance patterns, to which the solo cello responds with eloquent reserve.
Dating from much earlier, Vesalii Icones again has a strong rôle for solo cello, and also a solo dancer. It’s a set of fourteen dances, based on illustrations by Vesalius, that play out the Stations of the Cross in music of profound ritualistic expression. By contrast the Fantasia and Two Pavans provide a sardonic and provocative gloss on Purcell.
Contents and tracklist
- Vittorio Ceccanti (cello)
- Contempoartensemble
- Mauro Ceccanti
- Recorded: 22-23 May 2004
- Recording Venue: Studio di registrazione di Valter Neri, Montevarchi, Italy
- Vittorio Ceccanti (cello)
- Contempoartensemble
- Mauro Ceccanti
- Recorded: 22-23 May 2004
- Recording Venue: Studio di registrazione di Valter Neri, Montevarchi, Italy
- Contempoartensemble
- Mauro Ceccanti
- Recorded: 22-23 May 2004
- Recording Venue: Studio di registrazione di Valter Neri, Montevarchi, Italy
Awards and reviews
November 2011
prepare to be dazzled, amused and bemused. From the tranquillity of the cello's plainsong in Linguae Ignis (a world premiere recording) to microtonal and prepared-piano jazz and blues in the Purcell tribute, scarcely a minute goes by without 'Max' surprising us...The Italian ensemble and especially solo cellist Vittorio Ceccanti bring the music prancing off the page.
30th July 2011
palpable commitment and finesse.
14th August 2011
It is good to have this sensitive new, and affordable, recording of [Vesalii Icones], alive to its wealth of ironic nuance.
4th August 2011
Vesalii Icones is one of Peter Maxwell Davies's supreme achievements.
