Richard Blackford: Kalon

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Blackford’s meditation on beauty is both sophisticated and appealing and is thrillingly performed. But beware: the CD is only 24 minutes long. — BBC Music Magazine, October 2019, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 6th Sep 2019
Catalogue No: SIGCD568
Label: Signum
Length: 23 minutes

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Blackford: Kalon

Work length23:29

$4.00

$5.60

$6.95

Albion Quartet, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Jirí Rožeñ

I. Lyra

Track length7:42

$1.50

$2.10

$2.60

II. Beklemmt

Track length9:30

$1.50

$2.10

$2.60

III. Stile Concitato

Track length6:17

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

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About

The Ancient Greek word kalon was used by philosophers to describe perfect physical and moral beauty. In this recording, the Albion Quartet and the Czech Philharmonic explore the different aspects of kalon through the context in which beauty can exist in ugliness and darkness.

This EP is the result of Richard Blackford’s doctorate at the University of Bristol, which investigates the use of polytempo. The recording is a way of applying the findings of his doctorate in a range of musical contexts. Kalon is unique as it explores the use of polytempo in the context of extended tonality and modality, which could be said surpasses the complexity posed by serialist works of a similar nature, such as Stockhausen’s Gruppen or Carré.

This is the second recording released by the Albion Quartet, following their critically acclaimed first disc with Signum Dvořák: Quartets Nos. 5 & 12, ‘American’ & Suk: Meditation (SIGCD555).

‘Their attention to the smallest detail reaps dividends’ – Gramophone

Violoinist of the Albion Quartet, Tamsin Waley-Cohen, has featured as

a soloist on the disc Niobe, featuring the premier recording of a violin

concerto, also composed by Richard Blackford (SIGCD539).

‘evocative and clearly heartfelt’ – Gramophone

Reviews

October 2019

Blackford’s meditation on beauty is both sophisticated and appealing and is thrillingly performed. But beware: the CD is only 24 minutes long.

1st September 2019

Only offering 24 minutes of music, and one work, this disc is nevertheless rewarding...Greek folk music figures, Beethoven is quoted and the work enfolds a consideration of the Holocaust.

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