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Vale: New Music for Flute

Richard Craig (flute), Cora Schmeiser (soprano)

Distractfold Ensemble

Forget new complexity: some of the music on flautist Richard Craig’s second Metier disc might simply be called post-everything. When there’s no tonality, no melody and few pitches, what exactly...

Vale: New Music for Flute

Richard Craig (flute), Cora Schmeiser (soprano)

Distractfold Ensemble

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Forget new complexity: some of the music on flautist Richard Craig’s second Metier disc might simply be called post-everything. When there’s no tonality, no melody and few pitches, what exactly...

About

The flute is one of the instruments closest to the audible human breath and is caught in the process of continually becoming something other than a metal cylinder. Listening to Richard Craig’s playing, one becomes aware not of the limitations of the flute but of its expansion into a vibrant sonic biosphere. We listen, not just to the flute, but to the flautist; singing, whistling, humming are added to his palette and become integrated with the sound of the instrument.' – John Hails, from the CD booklet.

Richard Craig has established a leading position in the new music world for his virtuosity and skill in traditional and newer techniques on all members of the flute family. Here he presents a challenging and fascinating diverse group of contemporary works by British, American, French and Swedish composers – some are solos, which present even more challenges to the player – others with voice or chamber ensemble. Vocalist Cora Schmeiser is from the Netherlands and works in early/medieval music, jazz and contemporary and electronic music. Distractfold Ensemble is a British group of high stature, having been ensemble in residence at Harvard University in 2016 – this year they are back in the USA but at Stanford. The ensemble can vary its personnel and here is a string trio: Linda Jankowska (violin); Emma Richards (viola); Alice Purton (cello) This is the first recording of each work.

Contents and tracklist

No. 1, Par cette vie infirme et vacillante
Track length6:34
No. 2, Ô phosphorescence
Track length3:38

Awards and reviews

Awards Issue 2017

Forget new complexity: some of the music on flautist Richard Craig’s second Metier disc might simply be called post-everything. When there’s no tonality, no melody and few pitches, what exactly is left? Quite a lot, as it happens - and therein lies the interest…Craig owns the works here. The warmth of his tone along with a reverberant room sound, while taking nothing away from the compositions’ severity, succeeds in making them approachable.
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