Label: SIGNUM UK SACD 078
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Tenebrae/Nigel Short
Path of Miracles, for a cappella choir, was commissioned by Tenebrae from Joby Talbot and premiered last year. The work is based on the most enduring route of Catholic pilgrimage - the great Pilgramage to Santiago. The four movements of Path of Miracles are titled with the names of the four main staging posts of the 'Camino Frances': I Roncesvalles; II Burgos; III Leon; IV Santiago. The 'Camino Frances' s the central axis of a network of pilgrimage routes to Santiago. Talbot's music has been performed by, amongst others, the London Sinfonietta, The BBC Symphony Orchestra, The Brunel Ensemble, Evelyn Glennie and The Duke Quartet. In addition, Talbot also writes for the big and small screen. Credits include, The League of Gentlemen and The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy.Tenebrae, founded and directed by former King's Singer Nigel Short, is a professional vocal ensemble, whose motto is passion and precision. Tenebrae has built an impressive reputation for innovative and memorable performances throughout the UK and Europe.

Label: SIGNUM UK SACD 221
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WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDING
for 4 String Quartets and Large Tibetan Bowl [total time 33:45]

ARTISTS: Medici String Quartet; Finzi String Quartet; Cavaleri String Quartet; Fifth Quadrant (5Q): Siimon Hewitt Jones, Toby Tranaseur, violins; Drew Balch, viola; Jonathan Bloxham, cello; Louisa Golden, Tibetan singing bowl.

This premiere recording of John Tavener's Towards Silence, written for four string quartets and a large Tibetan bowl, explores the nature of consciousness and the process of dying. Tavener had long wanted to write the work and persuaded Professor Paul Robertson (leader of the Medici Quartet and co-founder of the Music Mind Spirit Trust) to perform it. However, shortly after the manuscript was completed both men became critically ill and close to death themselves. By August 2008 Robertson had recovered sufficiently to resuscitate the project, which had now taken on personal significance for himself and for Tavener. Former members of the Medici Quartet immediately agreed to reform and identified young professional string quartets with whom to perform and to act as musical mentors.Tavener's vision was for all four quartets to be positioned high up in the cathedral dome, invisible to the audience, and arranged in the shape of a cross, bringing the Christian, Bhuddist and Hindu religions together. This sense of space has been captured in the recording, which is an SACD hybrid that can also be enjoyed on a surround sound setup."The musical scheme is one of progressive etiolation. The chiming of the bowl marks the passing of time, as the music – thrummed pizzicatos, winding melodies, quietly sustained chords - steadily withdraws into itself, contracting into string chords. Eventually they cease, and all that's left is the sound of the bowl, now a sustained sound rather than chimes,and gradually fading, too. For some in the audience it might have been a great spiritual experience, hard to separatefrom Tavener's own condition" - Andrew Clements, The Guardian (concert review)