Michael Finnissy: Folklore
One of Britain’s most accomplished, celebrated and prolific composers, Michael Finnissy here plays a programme of his works based on folk music from several countries.
For more music by Michael Finnissy on Metier and Divine Art visit the composer index.
Track Listing
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Michael Finnissy:
- Folklore II (29:38)
- Three Dukes went a-riding (3:57)
- My love is like a red,red rose (3:40)
- How dear to me (4:31)
- Willow Willow (2:34)
- Vieux Noel, op. 59 no. 2 (1:03)
- Australian Sea Shanties, Set 2 no. 1 (1:30)
- Australian Sea Shanties, Set 2 no. 2 (1:27)
- Polskie Tance, op. 32 - No. 1 - Kujawiak-Kozak (0:25)
- Polskie Tance, op. 32 - No. 2 - Kozak-Drobny (0:36)
- Polskie Tance, op. 32 - No. 3 - Kujawiak (0:59)
- Polskie Tance, op. 32 - No. 4 - Zbojnicki (0:55)
- Terekkeme (3:20)
- Lylyly Li (8:25)
- Svatovac (0:46)
Reviews
“The geographical range of folk music drawn on in this collection of works is considerable, spanning Romania, China, Poland, Azerbaijan, Afro-America, Australia, Macedonia and Britain. A great deal of human history and culture is thereby encompassed in these pieces. The source materials aren’t merely served up as quotations, but make themselves manifest in the music. Truly engrossing.
” —Simon Cummings
“Finnissy reinvests folk tunes with the musical equivalent of a complex psychology; his transcriptions countervail against the cosy, sanitised, skipping-round-the-maypole version of rural life in bygone days that organisations such as English Heritage promote.
” —Brian Marley
“Finnissy has a refreshingly inauthentic approach to traditional sources, redefining their harmonic and rhythmic qualities in his often virtuoso pianism.
” —Richard Whitehouse
“a programme of subtle and absorbing sounds. Michael Finnissy’s piano style…[transforms] folkish melodies into evocative vistas of colour.
” —David Breckbill
“This is a sublime and vigorously enthralling disc of folk-inspired works from one of the most important living composers… the beauty of the playing and the music are never in doubt. CRITICS’ CHOICE 1998
” —Christopher Dingle
“This is the first of several Finnissy discs planned by Metier and a fair taster of his sound-world and aesthetic outlook.
” —Paul Driver
“[Folklore II] is elusive music, and the other folk-based pieces are useful primers for the greater sophistication and subtlety of the larger works.
” —Andrew Clements
“Often euphonious music – an ideal introduction to one of Britain’s most important avant-gardists.
” —Andy Hamilton