Gaia Duo - Stone, Salt & Sky: Beamish, Maconchy, Strachan, R Clarke (2023) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Formed in 2019, award-winning violin and cello duo GAIA have rapidly won plaudits for their pioneering programming and bold and daring performances.Their debut album release features three works specially written for the duo, and also bears testimony to their championing of works by underrepresented and overlooked voices from classical music’s past.

Elements of folk and jazz string-playing styles rub shoulders with traditional chamber-music imperatives in a programme that is full of women’s voices: those of the performers; of composers Sally Beamish, Rebecca Clarke and Elizabeth Maconchy; and of the singers of two Scottish folksongs, taped recordings of which frame Duncan Strachan’s hauntingly evocative Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.

"Alice and Katrina’s openness, creativity and strong commitment to developing their creativity and musical life has been evident from the birth of GAIA. They are a wonderful example of a contemporary chamber ensemble who both value and celebrate the tradition but are eager to explore the new and what it means to be a chamber musician in the 21st Century." (Paul Tracey, Chief Executive - Chamber Music Scotland)

It was a real pleasure to work with Katrina and Alice on a new duo. They brought so much to the table in terms of ideas and enthusiasm, and their playing was a direct inspiration for the work, leading me to explore new techniques and colours. I was glad to have their input in creating the work, and their performance was fresh, exciting and fun - with beautiful expressivity as well." (Sally Beamish OBE, Composer)

TRACKLIST

1. Gaia Duo - Clarke, Duo: Grotesque
2. Gaia Duo - Clarke, Duo: Lullaby
3. Gaia Duo - Beamish, Duo: Stone, Salt and Sky: I. Processional
4. Gaia Duo - Beamish, Duo: Stone, Salt and Sky: II. Horizon
5. Gaia Duo - Beamish, Duo: Stone, Salt and Sky: III. Harbour Blues
6. Gaia Duo - Maconchy, Duo: Duo (Theme and Variations): I. Theme Andante moderato
7. Gaia Duo - Maconchy, Duo: Duo (Theme and Variations): II. Variation I Allegro
8. Gaia Duo - Maconchy, Duo: Duo (Theme and Variations): III. Variation II Andante espressivo, rubato
9. Gaia Duo - Maconchy, Duo: Duo (Theme and Variations): IV. Variation III Allegro commodo –
10. Gaia Duo - Maconchy, Duo: Duo (Theme and Variations): V. Variation IV Molto moderato, espressivo –
11. Gaia Duo - Maconchy, Duo: Duo (Theme and Variations): VI. Variation V Allegro molto
12. Gaia Duo - Maconchy, Duo: Duo (Theme and Variations): VII. Variation VI Allegro vigoroso
13. Gaia Duo - Maconchy, Duo: Duo (Theme and Variations): VIII. Variation VII Lento serioso
14. Gaia Duo - Maconchy, Duo: Duo (Theme and Variations): IX. Variation VIII Allegro molto
15. Gaia Duo - Duo: Antibes
16. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: I. Among twenty snowy mountains
17. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: II. I was of three minds
18. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: III. The blackbird whirled in the autumn winds
19. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: IV. A man and a woman are one
20. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: V. The blackbird whistling, or just after
21. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: VI. The shadow of the blackbird
22. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: VII. O thin men of Haddam, why do you imagine golden birds?
23. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: VIII. I know noble accents
24. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: IX. When the blackbird flew out of sight
25. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: X. At the sight of the blackbirds flying in a green light
26. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: XI. He rode over Connecticut in a glass coach
27. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: XII. The river is moving
28. Gaia Duo - Strachan, Duo: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird: XIII. The blackbird sat in the cedar-limbs



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