This disc is devoted to chamber music by Sadie Harrison, an Australian composer who was raised and trained in Great Britain. All the works collected here reflect her interest in the folk musics, especially vocal music, of Eastern Europe, and many draw their inspiration from Lithuania. Her work sometimes transforms the folk songs into forms that are virtually unrecognizable and sometimes presents them with unadorned simplicity, but what is consistent is a spare musical style that evokes fragility and ephemerality. There is a recurring tone of sadness that sometimes settles into quiet resignation and acceptance, but that frequently deepens into bleak despair. The leanness of musical means applied to the darkness of her expression makes for an intriguingly complex listening experience. Harrison's grim vision starkly depicted in sound may not be for everyone, but for adventurous listeners, the works have a rewarding depth. The most expressively varied and texturally intricate piece on the album is the string quartet Geda's Weavings, inspired by the grim poetry of Lithuanian Sigitis Geda, and it's the most immediately accessible and appealing work presented here. The
St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, Vilnius, conducted by
Donatas Katkus, and a number of soloists play her music with understanding and dedication.