Peter Maxwell-Davies

(1934-2016)

mode 59

Le Jongleur De Notre Dame

$14.99

mode 59 PETER MAXWELL DAVIES, “Le Jongleur de Notre Dame” Edward Albert,  baritone Opera Sacra Buffalo conducted by Charles Peltz, Karen Bentley,  violin ,  Susan Royal,  flutes, piccolo; John Fullam, clarinet,  bass-clarinet; Ted Mook,  cello; Stephen Drury,  piano, celesta; Michael Pugliese,  percussion; Children’s Band directed by Matthew Cool.

In stock

Le Jongleur De Notre Dame
World premiere recordings"--Original container. Durations: 2:33; 50:36. Libretto of the 2nd work by the composer, based on a French medieval legend. Program and biographical notes and libretto ([12] p. : ill.) linked to from resource. The 1st work for 2 violins, viola, and cello; the 2nd work a masque for mime-juggler, baritone, instrumental ensemble, and children's band. The order of the works is reversed from the title order. In the 1st work: Arditti Quartet. In the 2nd work: Edward Albert, baritone ; Opera Sacra Buffalo ; Charles Peltz, conductor. Recorded in 1995.

World Premiere Recordings!

Edward Albert, baritone
Opera Sacra Buffalo
conducted by Charles Peltz
Karen Bentley, violin
Susan Royal, flutes, piccolo
John Fullam, clarinet, bass-clarinet
Ted Mook, cello
Stephen Drury, piano, celesta
Michael Pugliese, percussion
Children’s Band directed by Matthew Cool

String Quartet  (1952)
The Arditti Quartet

Peter Maxwell Davies has received much deserved attention in recent years as one of England’s greatest living composers, with many recordings of his music appearing on various labels. Mode is especially proud to add two previously unrecorded works to Davies’ catalog.

The String Quartet from 1952 is Davies’ earliest published composition written when he was 18; a work which remained unplayed for many years until the Arditti Quartet took it up and performed it for the composer on a special occasion. Yet this is no typical “student” work–it is a whirlwind movement which already looks forward to the style of the composer to come, with dancing cross-rhythms and hints of Bartok, jazz and Indian music (which Davies later wrote a dissertation on).

Le Jongleur de Notre Dame of 1978 is from an important    period of Davies’ work. Written and scored for his special ensemble of that time, The Fires of London, it is a virtuoso theater-piece. The libretto, here by the composer, is based on the French tale by Anatole France about a juggler who performs his act before the Virgin Mary and gains her blessing. In Le Jongleur, the juggler is a mime with musical counterparts. The narrative is carried by The Abbot (a baritone), and other brothers represented by the flute, clarinet and percussion. This cheerfully unpretentious work opens and closes with an Overture and Recessional performed by a children’s band, who march in (and out), to great sonic effect, of the church where the recording took place.

The Opera Sacra ensemble consists of some of the best American New Music performers, including Stephen Drury (keyboards), Ted Mook (cello), Karen Bentley (violin) and Michael Pugliese (percussion), as well as conductor Charles Peltz.

The CD contains liner notes by critic, musicologist and Davies’ expert Paul Griffiths.

Language : The 2nd work sung in English and Latin.

Links

Arditti Quartet on Mode:
John Cage: The Complete String Quartets Vol. 1 (mode 17)
                  The Complete String Quartets Vol. 2 (mode 27)
                  Vol. 19 – The Number Pieces 2 – Five3 for trombone &
                  string quartet (mode 75)
                  The Works for Violin 5 (mode 118)
                  The Works for Violin 6, The String Quartets 4
                  (mode 144/145)
Elliott Carter – Quintets and Voices  (mode 128)
Chaya Czernowin: Afatsim: Chamber Music (mode 77)
Peter Maxwell Davies: Le Jongleur de Notre Dame (mode 59)
Alvin Lucier:Navigations for Strings; Small Waves (mode 124)
Gerard Pape (mode 26)
Bernadette Speach: Reflections (mode 105)
Xenakis, UPIC, Continuum: Electroacoustic &
  Instrumental works from CCMIX Paris
(mode 98/99)

Irvine Arditti on Mode:
John Cage: The Freeman Etudes (mode 32)
                  Freeman Etudes 3 & 4 (mode 37)
John Cage: Volume 23: The Works for Violin 4 (mode 100)

Charles Peltz on Mode:
Arthur Honegger: Christoph Colomb (mode 35)
John Cage: The Piano Concertos (mode 57)
John Cage: The Orchestral Works 2 (mode 86)
Michael Colgrass / Gunther Schuller: Déjà vu (mode 125)
Iannis Xenakis: Complete Works for Piano Solo (mode 80)

Stephen Drury Profile
Stephen Drury Website
Arditti Quartet Web Site