Maxwell, Muhly & Couloir

Featuring

Ariel Barnes
Heidi Krutzen
Maryliz Smith
James Beckwith Maxwell
Couloir Duo
Nico Muhly

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Instruments

The Mustel celeste used in this recording was generously lent to the performers by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Composer's Artistic Vision

In "Serere," James B. Maxwell made a conscious effort to simplify his musical language, presenting each idea through a single, concise musical argument.

Performer Biography

Ariel Barnes, the cellist of COULOIR, is currently the Principal Cello of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Heidi Krutzen, the harpist of COULOIR, is the Principal Harp of the Philharmonia Orchestra, London.

Album & Artwork

The album presents a palindromic form, with a sonic development that expands from piece to piece, aiming to create a narrative experience for listeners.

Composition History

Nico Muhly's "Clear Music" is an extended exploration of a single measure from John Taverner's (a 15th-century English composer) motet "Mater Christi Sanctissima."

Composition History

James B. Maxwell's "Serere" is the concert music version of a ballet titled "Double Variations," which was co-choreographed by Simone Orlando and Joe Laughlin and commissioned by Ballet Kelowna in 2012.

Compositional Technique

The electroacoustic version of James B. Maxwell's "Serere" overtly illustrates the theme of writing and calligraphy by using the sound of a pencil on paper as a recurring motif.