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Liz Johnson is a British composer with a very special gift and distinctive style, definitely in the avant-garde mold yet not totally alien to ‘traditional-music’ lovers. ‘Intricate Web’ is not only the title of one of the quartets here (there are four numbered String Quartets and two other works for the quartet) but also accurately describes her compositional technique which is complex and detailed, requiring top class performers. It may also describe the way in which the pieces here have been assembled, splitting cello solos and vocal pieces between the quartets to create a web of fascinating sounds and textures.
The Fitzwilliam String Quartet is undoubtedly one of today’s most celebrated ensembles with a fine reputation in the world of new music. Cellist Heather Tuach plays solo in the breathtaking Cello Suite. Soprano Loré Lixenberg deals with the immense difficulty of the writing in the Jo Shapcott Settings and Ronald Woodley provides a magical performance on several clarinets. In all, a superb introduction to a major composer deserving wide recognition. Over 157 minutes of music!
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Liz Johnson:
- String Quartet No. 3 “Intricate Web” (10:11)
- Cello Suite: Reflections of an Eccentric English Artist − Part 1 (10:11)
- Towards the Sea (7:39)
- Jo Shapcott Settings – Cabbage Dreams (6:54)
- String Quartet No. 1 “Images of Trees” – I. Clefts and fissures of bark (4:53)
- String Quartet No. 1 “Images of Trees” – II. Winter branches (4:02)
- String Quartet No. 1 “Images of Trees” – III. Leaf (4:56)
- Sleep Close (5:58)
- Tide purl (4:09)
- Cello Suite: Reflections of an Eccentric English Artist – Part 2 (8:23)
- Jo Shapcott Settings – Watching Medusa (5:50)
- Fantasia Forty-something (4:28)
- Clarinet Quintet “Sea-change” (28:16)
- String Quartet No. 2 “For Elliott” – I. Part I (3:10)
- String Quartet No. 2 “For Elliott” – II. Part 2 (1:56)
- String Quartet No. 2 “For Elliott” – III. Part 3 (4:36)
- Jo Shapcott Settings – Elephant Woman (2:23)
- Jo Shapcott Settings – Pig (2:03)
- Cello Suite: Reflections of an Eccentric English Artist – Part 3 (9:28)
- String Quartet No. 4 “Sky-burial” (27:17)
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01
String Quartet No. 3 "Intricate Web" (10:11)
02
Cello Suite: Reflections of an Eccentric English Artist − Part 1 (10:11)
03
Towards the Sea (7:39)
04
Jo Shapcott Settings – Cabbage Dreams (6:54)
05
String Quartet No. 1 "Images of Trees" – I. Clefts and fissures of bark (4:53)
06
String Quartet No. 1 "Images of Trees" – II. Winter branches (4:02)
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String Quartet No. 1 "Images of Trees" – III. Leaf (4:56)
08
Sleep Close (5:58)
09
Tide purl (4:09)
10
Cello Suite: Reflections of an Eccentric English Artist – Part 2 (8:23)
11
Jo Shapcott Settings – Watching Medusa (5:50)
12
Fantasia Forty-something (4:28)
13
Clarinet Quintet "Sea-change" (28:16)
14
String Quartet No. 2 "For Elliott" – I. Part I (3:10)
15
String Quartet No. 2 "For Elliott" – II. Part 2 (1:56)
16
String Quartet No. 2 "For Elliott" – III. Part 3 (4:36)
17
Jo Shapcott Settings – Elephant Woman (2:23)
18
Jo Shapcott Settings – Pig (2:03)
19
Cello Suite: Reflections of an Eccentric English Artist – Part 3 (9:28)
20
String Quartet No. 4 "Sky-burial" (27:17)
