The English composer Steve Elcock spent years writing music without ever expecting it to be heard: based in rural France, he worked as a translator, composing 'for the drawer.' A recent Toccata Classics recording of his Third Symphony and other orchestral pieces revealed him to be a major symphonic voice. The works on this first album of his chamber music show the same long-term control of harmonic tension, occasionally leavened by a mischievous sense of humor. The Clarinet Sextet and The Shed Dances are immediately appealing in their melodiousness and harmonic language, whereas the darkly aggressive String Trio No. 1 foreshadows the Third Symphony with it's stark juxtaposition of contrasts, and An Outstretched Hand offers a disturbing comment on our troubled 21st century condition. The Veles Ensemble is a string trio based in London, it's repertoire both exploring rarely heard masterpieces and bringing the classics to life. A special interest of the ensemble is in promoting new compositions and contemporary music.

Tracklist:

Clarinet Sextet, Op. 11a: I. Allego Commodo
Clarinet Sextet, Op. 11a: II. Romanza
Clarinet Sextet, Op. 11a: III. Variations & Theme
String Trio, Op. 8b
The Shed Dances, Op. 26b: I. Disgruntled Waltz
The Shed Dances, Op. 26b: II. Petrified Minuet
The Shed Dances, Op. 26b: III. Leaden Clog Dance
The Shed Dances, Op. 26b: IV. Boneyard Antics
The Shed Dances, Op. 26b: V. Marion’s Pavane
The Shed Dances, Op. 26b: VI. Rampant Scavenger
An Outstretched Hand, Op. 24

UPC: 5060113445063
Label: Toccata
Release Date: 1.4.19
Format: CD

Elcock / Veles Ensemble - Chamber Music 1 (CD)