Steve ELCOCK: Orchestral Music, Volume Two
This second volume of orchestral music by the English composer Steve Elcock (b. 1957), long since resident in France, brings three powerful works all with their origins in earlier pieces. Incubus examines the terrors of nightmare-riven sleep in a vigorous symphonic essay based on a movement from Elcock’s string quartet Night after Night. The impulse behind Haven, an expansive and surprisingly muscular fantasy, is the Sarabanda theme from Bach’s First Partita for solo violin. And Elcock’s Fifth Symphony takes its cue from the most famous of all Fifth Symphonies, re-examining Beethoven’s structural logic in Elcock’s own musical language to produce a volcanic new Fifth, its charge of wild energy husbanded to maximum dramatic effect.
Siberian Symphony Orchestra
Andrey Lopatin, violin (Track 2)
Grigorii Vever, clarinet (Track 5)
Evgeny Plaksin, horn (Track 5)
Dmitry Vasiliev, conductor
FIRST RECORDINGS
Listen To This Recording:
-
Incubus, Op. 28 (2017)
- Incubus, Op. 28
- Haven: Fantasia on a Theme by J. S. Bach, Op. 4
- I Allegro – Lento – Moderato
- II Ostinato (Allegro) –
- III Canzonetta (Largo)
- IV Allegro
Haven: Fantasia on a Theme by J. S. Bach, Op. 4 (1995, rev. 2011–17)
Symphony No. 5, Op. 21 (2014)
Paul Howarth :
This eagerly anticipated release of the second volume of Steve Elcock’s orchestral works does not disappoint. This is marvellous contemporary music and whilst challenging, it is nonetheless approachable, entirely logical and contains moments of transcendence which had this listener reaching for his handkerchief. I have not got my head around the first movement of the Fifth Symphony ( yet), but the insistent and melodic ostinato, the glorious slow movement and the exhilarating finale, leave one astonished at the quality of music on offer here. Does anyone write adagios like this anymore? Well yes. Steve Elcock does. It goes without saying that this release is a triumph and the shorter pieces, Incubus and Haven, merit the same attention as the symphony. With an extensive essay by Francis Pott on Steve Elcock’s symphonic composition in the accompanying booklet, and superb playing by the Siberian Symphony Orchestra under Dmitry Vasiliev, you have an essential purchase for anyone wishing to hear an original musical voice, and yet one firmly located in a Western classical tradition. Listening has been a privilege and my feelings on hearing these pieces for the first time, will remain with me.
Classical Music Sentinel :
‘I had pointed out that this self-taught composer “doesn’t try to impose on the listener a new cacophonous language, or paint an alien sonic landscape, but rather adds his own original and highly brilliant brush strokes to a canvas framed by historical convention.” This certainly holds true again in this second volume of his orchestral works and aligns very well with a statement found in the booklet notes which says: “Elcock’s music frequently embraces titanic elemental force, and yet it wears a human face.”‘ […]
Not many composers still write beautiful slow movements like this one, or unleash as much kinetic energy as in this symphony’s final movement. If you seek compelling 21st century orchestral music, look no further than Steve Elcock.’
—Jean-Yves Duperron, Classical Music Sentinel
Charlottesville Classical :
‘Elcock has a strong musical personality, and his works show great originality. Plus, they have an internal logic that guides the listener through the music. […]
In short, it doesn’t matter what the origin of this work is. Elcock’s Fifth Symphony is an exciting and substantial composition. It stands on its own merits.
The Siberian Symphony Orchestra turns in some top-flight performances. The ensemble sound has a slight edge to it, but the soloists deliver time after time.’
—Ralph Graves, Charlottesville Classical
Fanfare :
‘Although Elcock’s distinctive musical universe sounds not quite like that of any other composer, there are influences from such diverse composers as Mahler, Simpson, Nielsen, Pettersson, and Shostakovich[…]Most enthusiastically recommended, including the compelling performances by the Siberian SO under the secure conducting of Dmitry Vasiliev. A strong Want List contender.’
—Fanfare
Klassisk Musikk :
‘Det som er bemerkelsesverdig med Elcocks musikk, er hvor velkonstruert, uttrykksmessig fokusert og kraftfullt alt er: i motsetning til mange selvlærte (og en god del høyskoleutdannede) komponister, setter Elcock høye mål for sine komposisjoner, som han stort sett oppnår og vel så det. […]
Fremføringene, følsomt dirigert av Dmitry Vasiliev, er vel gjennomtenkt. Siberian Symphony Orchestra spiller, om ikke virtuost, sikkert og engasjert. Toccatas lyd er førsteklasses.’
English translation:
‘What is remarkable about Elcock’s music is how well-constructed, expressively focused and powerful it all is: unlike many self-taught (and a good many college-educated) composers, Elcock sets high standards for his compositions, which he largely achieves and with good reason. […]
The performances, sensitively conducted by Dmitry Vasiliev, are well thought out. The Siberian Symphony Orchestra plays, if not virtuoso, then confidently and with commitment. The sound of the Toccata is first-rate.’
—Guy Rickards, Klassisk Musikk