Philip Grange: Homage

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During the early 1990's Grange completed two BBC commissions, Focus and Fade for the BBC Symphony Orchestra, premiered at the Royal Festival Hall in 1992, and Lowry Dreamscape, premiered at the 1993 BBC Festival of Brass. I have not heard North Country composer John Casken’s (b. 1949) Piano Quartet. Philip Grange explains that he garnered material for his Tiers of Time (2007) from that work’s final bars. The stimulation of Grange’s ‘landscape inspired’ piano quartet was found in ‘the desolate, gloomy moorlands and the breath-taking vistas often illuminated by powerful sunlight’ prevalent in the English Peak District. The title itself is derived from geological strata apparent in those hills. This work is not a ‘cow and gate’ depiction of the countryside: it is hard-edged, more mill-stone grit that anything else. It is not a difficult musical language, but one that is not immediately approachable. I had to listen to it twice before the gentler, more lyrical passages revealed themselves, especially in the deeply moving conclusion. It is an impressive piece of writing for the ensemble. Whilst still in the North Country, I would love to hear Grange’s Lowry Dreamscape for brass band!

stimulating and full of a sense of fun and excitement. Goss’s piece similarly mixes genres and styles, As the warm introductory note from musical director Ian Mitchell suggests, this disc stems from friendships

Grange's music has been broadcast throughout the world, and 20 of his works have been released on commercial CD, including 3 single-composers CDs: Dark Labyrinths (2000) (awarded Classical Album of the Week in Music Week), Darkness Visible (2006) and Zeitgeist (2007).

Five stars: Gemini is an outstanding ensemble and Sophie Harris is a wonderful cellist. Plenty of engaging textures… make a fascinating dialogue. Informative booklet and high-quality recording. to contemplate certain fundamental aspects of the universe. But the garden is not dull; it is visually After the close of the event at 3:30pm, you are very welcome to stay on and join us for the launch of Philip Grange’s latest portrait CD Homage. The launch will involve a short presentation, which will be followed by Grange’s Elegy for solo cello performed live by Gemini’s Sophie Harris. Gemini ensemble here).Building to a conclusionof ironic glory, the score is also wonderfully diverse, repleteIt’s performed superbly here. What also distinguishes this DVD version of the work is that it actually consists modern setting. In fleeting visual scenes from the narrative, we encounter Eliza Donnithorne alone in her Prior to arriving at Manchester, Prof Grange held the posts of Professor of Compositionc at Exeter University (1989-2000), Fellow in the Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge (1985-87) and Northern Arts Composer Fellow at Durham University (1988-89). His principal composition teachers were Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (with whom he studied both privately and at the Dartington Summer School between 1975 and 1981) and Professor David Blake (with whom he studied at York University between 1976 and 1983). the mid-1970s – Ave Maris Stella and Psalm 124, Star-Folded and Economies of Scale date from 2000 and