Colin Currie
Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - MacMillan series vol. 1
Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic / James MacMillan / Colin Currie / Gordan Nikolic
CC 72540 - 0608917254020
Information
The music of James MacMillan may often be heard and understood on more than one level. As well as following the purely musical argument, the listener is often also following in parallel explorations of social and theological issues. This is very much the case with his remarkable percussion concerto Veni Emmanuel, written for Evelyn Glennie in 1992.
The work is cast in one movement, but subdivided into eight short sections, alternating in mood between expectancy and celebration, and its musical material is derived entirely from the 15th century French Advent hymn Veni, veni Emmanuel (“O come, o come, Emmanuel”). The full melody in fact appears only near the work’s conclusion, and the work might therefore be seen as a gradual “revelation” of the message of Advent, the awaiting of the coming of Christ. Liturgical connections are further manifest in the title of the first section, “Introit”, the presence of two “Sequences” (sections 4 and 6) and a “Chorale” (section 7).
James MacMillan has been presented with the prestigious ABO Award at the Association of British Orchestras’ annual conference (2012)! Each year this award is given to a person or organisation considered to have contributed greatly to orchestral life across the country. Previously recipients of the award, which dates back to 1990, include Sir Colin Davis, Sir Neville Marriner, Sir Charles Mackerras and Richard Hickox.
Volume 1 in the MacMillan series!
Auftakt einer kleinen MacMillan-Serie.
Diese enthält einige von James MacMillans Hauptwerken, unter anderem das bekannte Percussion-Konzert „Veni, Veni, Emmanuel“ mit Collin Currie am Schlagzeug, welches durch die Aufnahme mit Evelyn Glennie berühmt geworden ist. Dieser Ausgabe folgen zwei bis drei weitere Folgen innerhalb einer kleinen MacMillan-Serie.
"Just recently I reviewed a very fine Challenge Classics disc of James MacMillan’s St Luke Passion. However, this wasn’t the first time that the label had issued a MacMillan recording...These three discs contain an excellent and wide ranging selection of pieces by James MacMillan. All are expertly performed and the recordings must be counted as definitive since the composer, who is no mean conductor, is in charge. The recorded sound on each of these CDs is excellent and Ivan Moody’s notes are very useful. Through these discs we can appreciate further what a fine and individual composer James MacMillan is." |
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CC 72540 MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - Music Web International
Tracklisting
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1
1
A Deep but Dazzling Darkness
23:49
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1
2
A Meditation on Iona
16:26
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1
3
Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
30:13
06-07-2015
CC 72540 MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - Music Web International
"Just recently I reviewed a very fine Challenge Classics disc of James MacMillan’s St Luke Passion. However, this wasn’t the first time that the label had issued a MacMillan recording...These three discs contain an excellent and wide ranging selection of pieces by James MacMillan. All are expertly performed and the recordings must be counted as definitive since the composer, who is no mean conductor, is in charge. The recorded sound on each of these CDs is excellent and Ivan Moody’s notes are very useful. Through these discs we can appreciate further what a fine and individual composer James MacMillan is." |
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CC 72540 MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - Music Web International
06-07-2015
CC 72540 MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - The Arts Desk
“What you miss is the visual element – being able to see the remarkable Colin Currie rapidly switching between marimba, timps, gongs and cowbells. Challenge Classics's production is handsomely done though – listen through a pair of decent headphones and you can visualise exactly what’s going on...It’s a wonderful piece, and this is a definitive performance. |
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CC 72540 MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - The Arts Desk
01-10-2012
CC 72540 MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - Gramophone
wonderfully, fresh, imaginative, rhythmically impulsive and vibrantly colourful
CC 72540 MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - Gramophone
30-07-2012
James MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
“Om deze boodschap een muzikaal gestalte te geven, schrijft de katholieke componist een gigantische bezetting van slagwerk en orkest. [...] James MacMillan geeft op sublieme wijze richting aan zijn eigen partituur.” Katholiek Dagblad - 16 maart 2012
“To give this message a musical shape, the Catholic composer writes a gigantic line up for percussion and orchestra. [...] James MacMillan conducts his own piece in a sublime way.” Katholiek Dagblad - 16 maart 2012
James MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
28-07-2012
CC 72540 MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - Financial Times
MacMillan's is an aural blockbuster and Colin Currie, the soloist, dazzles with his dexterity and musical imagination
CC 72540 MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - Financial Times
19-07-2012
CC 72540 MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - BBC Online
A tour-de-force world premier is the star attraction of this great release
CC 72540 MacMillan - Veni, Veni, Emmanuel - BBC Online
Colin Currie, percussion
Gordan Nikolic, violin