Colin Matthews's music combines two impulses: carrying forward the expressive intensity of late romantic and early modern music (like Mahler and Strauss) with a fascination for constructivist form-plans and post-minimalist processes.
Composer Biography
Colin Matthews, the composer, worked with Benjamin Britten in Aldeburgh from 1972-76 and collaborated with Deryck Cooke for many years on the performing version of Mahler's Tenth Symphony.
Recording & Production
Colin Matthews, the composer, served as co-producer for the recording of Divertimento, Oboe Quartet, and Triptych, and as producer for Five Concertinos and String Quartet No.2 on this album.
Composition History
The Divertimento for Double String Quartet by Colin Matthews, commissioned by and dedicated to Peter Pears, was first performed in June 1982 at the 35th Aldeburgh Festival.
Album & Artwork
This album is part of NMC's Ancora series, which reissues important contemporary British works deleted by other labels, ensuring they remain permanently available.
Composition History
Colin Matthews's String Quartet No.2 underwent a significant revision after its initial performances, with the second movement being entirely replaced by five new movements.
Recording & Production
Three of the works on this album, Divertimento, Oboe Quartet No.1, and Triptych, were transferred from LP recordings because their original master tapes were unavailable.
