Composer: George Crumb
Performer: Rohan de Saram, Ensemble Dreamtiger
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: First Hand Records
Release: 2022
Size: 830 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Dream Sequence (Images II)
Sonata for Solo Cello
02. I. Fantasia
03. II. Tema pastorale con variazioni
04. III. Toccata
Vox Balaenae
05. I. Vocalise (For the Beginning of Time)
06. II. Sea Theme
07. III. Archeozoic
08. IV. Proterozoic
09. V. Paleozoic
10. VI. Mesozoic
11. VII. Cenozoic
12. VIII. Sea-Nocturne (For the End of Time)
The sad news of George Crumb’s death was announced on 6 February 2022, shortly after these recordings from a concert in Holland in 1978 were discovered in the KRO-NCRV archives in Hilversum. They included the first European performance of Dream Sequence (1976), one of his most beautiful and original compositions. George was always a pleasure to work with, highly professional, considerate, open to suggestions and relaxed. On one fraught occasion, when Rohan’s cello mysteriously disappeared for several hours, making rehearsal impossible, many composers could throw a tantrum (!) but not George. He remained completely calm and slightly amused by the ensuing Tati-esque comédie. He was also a master calligrapher. His scores, all hand-drawn, are works of art, the notation often original, and models of musical practicality.
The label First Hand Records offer these three recordings from long ago in tribute and gratitude to a remarkable musician, composer and friend.