サクストン: ギルガメシュ抒情詩からの情景

イギリス交響楽団の首席指揮者&芸術監督を務め、様々なレア作品・現代作品の録音に定評のあるケネス・ウッズが考案した「21世紀交響曲プロジェクト」(The 21st Century Symphony Project)は、9人の作曲家による9つの新しい交響曲を委嘱・初演・録音することを目標にスタートし、これまでデイヴィッド・マシューズ(NI6382)、フィリップ・ソーヤーズ(NI6353)、エイドリアン・ウィリアムズ(NI6432)、マシュー・テイラー(NI6406)などがリリースされてきました。

ロバート・サクストンがケネス・ウッズのために書いた5楽章の管弦楽曲「ギルガメシュ抒情詩からの情景」は、「交響曲(Symphony)」とは名付けられていないものの、その規模や表現力豊かな躍動感、統合性から「21世紀交響曲プロジェクト」の第6弾に相応しい作品としてリリースされます。
東京エムプラス

"What is the symphony today?" as put forward by conductor Kenneth Woods in the accompanying notes to this, the fifth edition of the English Symphony Orchestras 21st Century Symphony Project, is a compelling conversation starter and is something for listeners to contemplate as they approach these two works by Robert Saxton. Scenes from the Epic of Gilgamesh, commissioned by the English Symphony and Woods for this project, is a programmatic work. By layout and instrumentation, it certainly fits the bill as a symphony. The Prologue jumps right into the intensity that is a foundation of Saxtons musical language with repeated and Motorik phrasing and an underlying flurry from the strings supporting melodies passed through the orchestras sections. As Saxton has turned to more tonality in his works, he uses dissonance to build and release tension, as can be heard throughout the fourth movement, "Lament on the Death of Enkidu," following the clarion horn call-opening. The melody is then passed through a number of soloists as each continues to repeat the lament. The second work on this album, the symphonic poem The Resurrection of the Soldiers, was also co-commissioned by the English Symphony and is performed by the English String Orchestra (the string sections only of the larger orchestra). It is inspired by a Stanley Spencer painting of the same name that depicts soldiers from World War I emerging from their graves on the biblical last day. Those unfamiliar with the artwork are in luck since it is re-created as the albums cover art. Fans of orchestral music will be impressed by this movingly powerful and emotionally charged symphonic poem. Either work will serve as a good introduction to Saxtons music, and its another strong outing in this series. ~ Keith Finke