Label: SIGNUM U.K. 162
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PATRICK HAWES (*1958) – SONG OF SONGS
Song of Songs: Love’s Promise, Rhapsody, Many Waters, Faint with Love, Love’s Echo & Song of Songs
Perfect Love; When Israel was a Child; The Lord’s Prayer; O Lord Our Governor; Toccata
The Vauday Part Songs: The Oaks, Stone, The Carriageway & In Memoriam
Elin Manahan Thomas, soprano

Conventus; The English Chamber Orchestra/Patrick Hawes

Roger Sayer, organ
The composer Patrick Hawes has established a reputation as one of the most popular contemporary English composers working today.
This new disc of choral and organ works centers on the mystery and beauty of the words of the Old Testament, with stunning performances from Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and Patrick’s own choral group Conventus, as well as accompaniment from The English Chamber Orchestra.

Label: SIGNUM U.K. 185
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JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685 – 1750): Partita No. 6 in E minor BWV 830
J.S. BACH/ FERRUCCIO BUSONI (1866 – 1924): Toccata, Adagio & Fugue in C major BWV 564
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770 – 1827): Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
J.S. BACH/ALESSANDRO MARCELLO (1669- 1747): Adagio from Concerto No. 3 in D minor BWV 974
FREDERIC CHOPIN (1810 – 1849): Prelude No. 4 in E minor, Op. 28; Etude No. 12 in C minor, Op. 25
BONUS: Interview with James Rhodes; Video – Live at the Roundhouse, London, J.S.Bach/A. Marcello: Adagio

James Rhodes, piano
“As someone who has never been to a music college, done my diploma in piano playing or participated in any competitions, I feel particularly blessed to have been able to choose to learn pieces of music for the simple reason that I absolutely love them. I have never been forced to slave for hours over a piece of music that doesn’t make my skin crawl with pleasure or raise my heartbeat to almost viagra-induced levels. This CD is a perfect example of me as a musician and piano-fanatic choosing works that for as long as I can remember have blown my mind.” – James Rhodes
(2 CDs for the price of 1)

Label: SIGNUM U.K. 226
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MODEST MUSSORGSKY (1839 – 1881): Pictures at an Exhibition; CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862 – 1918): Estampes; FRANZ LISZT (1811 – 1886): Sposalizio; Les Jeux d’eau à la Villa d’Este; Ave Maria, Die Glocken von Rom, S182

ARTIST: Llyr Williams, piano

Label: SIGNUM U.K. 282
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ARTISTS: Thomas Walker, tenor (Jesus). Elin Manahan Thomas, soprano (Mary). Rachael Lloyd, mezzo-soprano (Martha). Exeter Philharmonic Choir, Exeter Cathedral Choir, Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Label: SIGNUM UK 117
Our Price: $35.00
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String Quartet No. 1 (1966); String Quartet No. 2 “Company”; String Quartet No. 3 “MISHIMA”; String Quartet No. 4 “BUCZAK”; String Quartet No. 5

The Smith Quartet:
Ian Humphries, Darragh Morgan, violins; Nic Pendlebury, viola; Deirdre Cooper, cello
Following on from the critically acclaimed albums, Different Trains and Ghost Stories, Signum is pleased to announce the release of The Smith Quartet’s latest album, the complete string quartets by the world-acclaimed composer, Philip Glass. Over a time span of 25 years, Glass completed 8 quartets (the 3 earliest were withdrawn) drawing on the influences of Bach to Shostakovich, as well as exterior musical sources: dance, theatre and film. Clear - cut, polished performances by The Smith Quartet give the listener an excellent taster of a quartet at the forefront of contemporary music. (2 CDs)

Label: SIGNUM UK 195
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IGOR STRAVINSKY: PETROUCHKA
ANATOLY LIADOV(1855-1914): BABA-YAGA; THE ENCHANTED LAKE; KIKIMORA

BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Thierry Fischer, conductor

Petrushka follows 2009’s release of Stravinsky’s Firebird and is the second in a three part series of works from Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes, performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales under Thierry Fischer. These recordings encapsulate the vivacity and passion of Stravinsky’s tale of three life sized puppets, seemingly brought to life. The disc also features three works by fellow Russian and Ballet Russes composer Anatoly Liadov: dark and dramatic tone poems on Slavic witches and demons in Babayaga and Kikimora, and a tranquil and fairytale like portrait of the Russian countryside in The Enchanted Lake.

“This fresh sounding live recording from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales under Thierry Fischer, the first made in the BBC Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff, certainly has a sense of occasion about it, with the audience erupting as the finale chorale reaches its exultant conclusion.” - BBC Music Magazine

Label: SIGNUM UK 203
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John Metcalf (b. 1946): Septet; Llwybrau Cân; Castell Dolbadarn; Mapping Wales

ARTISTS: Eleanor Turner, harp; Nicola Thomas, cello; David Campbell, clarinet; Philippa Davies, flute
The Solstice Quartet; The Sacconi Quartet

Paths of Song is a new collection of works by leading Welsh contemporary composer John Metcalf. They explore a variety of engaging themes and ideas, with the works Paths of Song and Mapping Wales based on concepts of travel and journey in and around the composer’s homeland. As well as contributions from a number of talented performers and ensembles, these works feature a key role for harpist Eleanor Turner (soloist and member of 4 girls 4 harps), who provides some truly standout performances. This is Signum’s second release with composer John Metcalf – following 2007’s In Time of Daffodils with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Signum UK 103)

“I have to concede it's difficult not to be charmed ... The strength of Met

Label: SIGNUM UK 212
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A Symphony of the Prayers of Father Alexander Men
Alexander Levine (b.1966): Prayers for Mankind

ARTISTS: Tenebrae; Nigel Short, director

Prayers for Mankind celebrates the life and writings of Father Alexander Men, a Russian Orthodox Christian priest who, whilst being little known outside of his home country during his lifetime, has come to be hailed as a saint and martyr by thousands all over the world. 2010 marks the anniversary of what would have been his 85th Birthday, as well as 20 years since his brutal assassination on the way to a Sunday morning service. Following years of religious suppression under the communist regime, Father Alexander Men emerged as a leading Christian and humanitarian figure in Russia, through radio and TV broadcasts and his prolific written works. These prayers, set by Russian composer Alexander Levine, capture the beauty and humanity of Men’s view of the world, and is brought vividly to life by Nigel Short’s professional chamber choir Tenebrae. A recent review for Tenebrae (from their June disc - Figure Humaine, Signum UK 197)
“… they seem to have an extra gear, a kind of choral over-drive that allows them to soar almost serenely over corners that have some of the finest vocal ensembles showing the strain.” -BBC Radio 3, CD Review, Andrew McGregor, May 2010

Label: SIGNUM UK 247
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Artists:
Lisa Milne, soprano; Lorna Anderson, soprano; Robert Murray, tenor; Felicity Lott, soprano; Christopher Maltman, baritone; Jonathan Lemalu, bass-baritone; Malcom Martineau, piano.

This release marks the first in a new series charting the complete songs of Francis Poulenc, performed by some of the greatest singers of the day. This disc includes the vocal works: Cocardes; Metamophoses; Chansons gaillardes; À sa guitare; Épitaphe sur un texte de Malherbe; Trois Poèmes de Louise de Vilmorin; Bleuet; Dernier poème; Rosemonde; Fiançailles; Parisiana and La Courte Paille.

Label: SIGNUM UK 504
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JAMES PUGH: And Flights of Angels; Aviariations; 4x2x1; Triad; DANIEL SCHNYDER: Trio; Four Short Stories, fro brass octet; The Iron Tetrapod; Three American Dances - The Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble: Graham Ashton, trumpet; Jeff Lang, horn; James Pugh, trombone; Mark Gould, trumpet - Signum U.K. is delighted to present this world-class ensemble, led by trumpeter Graham Ashton. This group of talented New Yorkers have performed the works of James Pugh and Daniel Schnyder in concerts across the globe. The world of brass music is relatively under-explored, and James Pugh (Professor of Trombone at Purchase College, State University of New York) and Daniel Schnyder (Composer-in-Residence with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra) have specialized in a repertoire that is both fun, challenging and extremely versatile. A champion of brass ensemble music, Graham Ashton reformed the Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble (GABE) upon relocating to New York in 1999. The ensemble quickly made its mark by drawing together an eclectic mix of Manhattan’s most distinguished brass players from the Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and American Symphony. GABE made their New York debut in 2000 at the 25th Anniversary conference of the International Trumpet Guild.