Hommages

by Gavin Bryars

Overview

Occupying a tenuous position between his early masterworks for the Obscure label and his later, generally blander, albums recorded for ECM and Point, Gavin Bryars' Hommages offers a tantalizing glimpse of a direction not taken. The four pieces are scored for as many as three pianos and percussion (including vibes and marimba), which are used to paint sonic images at once rigorous and dreamy. Bryars leaves no written clue as to who these homages are inspired by, but one hears echoes of Erik Satie and Percy Grainger and one in small section the rhythmic motif is clearly derived from the "Mars" portion of Holst's The Planets. There tends to be a relatively steady minimalist pulse underneath the compositions, but above it the chords float and linger and the pulse itself occasionally hesitates, as if considering other options, before moving on. The overall atmosphere is one of purposeful calm tinged with Bryars' trademark melancholy. A very beautiful record; one could have only hoped that the composer would have continued along this path. Highly recommended. ~ Brian Olewnick

Product Details

Release Date:	06/28/2019
Label:	Crepuscule / Les Disques Du Cr?Puscule
UPC:	0708527190180

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gavin Bryars   Primary Artist,Vibraphone,Roto Toms,Conductor,Piano
Nigel Shipway   Vibraphone,Percussion,Roto Toms,Marimba
Christopher Hobbs   Piano,Vibraphone
Ronald Reah   Piano,Vibraphone
John White   Tuba,Piano
Andrew Wilson-Dickson   Tuba
Andrew Renshaw   Gong,Tamtam,Cymbals
Marie Wilson   Piano,Marimba
Dave Smith   Marimba,Percussion,Piano,Tamtam,Marimba,Roto Toms,Vibraphone,Horn (Baritone),Orchestral Bells
Andrew Bilham   Roto Toms,Vibraphone

Technical Credits

Gavin Bryars   Liner Notes,Producer,Composer
Andy Terry   Engineer
John Julian   Engineer
Wim Mertens   Producer