Harrison Birtwistle: Night's Black Bird, The Shadow of Night & The Cry of Anubis

Featuring

Ryan Wigglesworth
Owen Slade
Hallé Orchestra
Harrison Birtwistle

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Birtwistle views composition as a "grim game" where he uses deterministic procedures and random numbers to create contexts of disruption, leading to spontaneous inventions.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Birtwistle's music often implies that the modern concept of progressive time is less powerful than the ancient circular time-experience, like the "eternal return" of seasons.

Compositional Technique

Birtwistle's approach to orchestration is "functional," focusing on clear presentation of keening monodies, block contrasts, and varied ostinati, without sensuous indulgence.

Recording & Production

The works on this disc were recorded in Studio 7, BBC Manchester, from July 17-19, 2010.

Composition History

The composition of "Night's Black Bird" by Sir Harrison Birtwistle was commissioned by Roche in 2003.

Composer Biography

Sir Harrison Birtwistle sold his clarinets in 1965 to dedicate himself entirely to composition, leading him to Princeton as a Harkness Fellow.

Composer Biography

Sir Harrison Birtwistle, the composer, grew up in the industrial North of England and his earliest musical experience came from playing in a military band.