Search - Gavin Bryars, Hilliard Ensemble :: Vita Nova

Gavin Bryars writes for specific instrumentalists and singers rather than for performers in general--a powerful motivating force that--as Handel, Mozart, Britten, and others, including Bryars, have shown--often inspires great music. Bryars is a mature, thoughtful composer whose versatility--he writes for several different instrumental and vocal combinations here--never inhibits his originality. And his originality never comes at the expense of accessibility. The music is tonal yet unpredictable, intelligent yet unpretentious. "Incipit Vita Nova," for male alto and string trio, is a response to the birth of a friend's child. Its simple beauty and sensitive instrumental scoring sets the tone for the entire album. "Glorious Hill," commissioned by the Hilliard Ensemble, is a triumph of text, texture, timbre, and of the unique expressive power of the human voice. There are many rewards on this album, from the stirring, sometimes disturbing, always enticing music, to the all-around, top-of-form performances. --David Vernier