Kevin Raftery: Second Child
msv 28600 (Métier, CD)
FIRST RELEASE (9 September 2022)
Playing time: 76'25"
Tracks: 10
Booklet pages: 20
℗ 2022 Kevin Raftery
© 2022 Divine Art Ltd / Diversions LLC
Main country of recording: United Kingdom
Reviewer: Robert McCarney
Review of Kevin Raftery: Second Child published on 30 September 2022
Kevin Raftery (born 1951):
String Quartet No 2, 'Serioso' (2017)
1 Fragmented
2 Cool, poised, alert
3 Three themes with variations
Marmen Quartet:
Johannes Marmen, violin
Ricky Gore, violin
Bryony Gibson-Cornish, viola
Steffan Morris, cello
4 Cook From Frozen (2006)
Clare Hammond, piano
5 Dimitte nobis (2006)
EXAUDI
James Weeks, conductor
6 Musica Fermata (2018)
Berkeley Ensemble - Sophie Mather and Francesca Barritt, violins
Three English Poems (2004-5)
7 Ribblesdale
8 Unhaunted Desert
9 From Prison
EXAUDI
James Weeks, conductor
10 Elegy Upon Elegy (2019)
Berkeley Ensemble
Paul Cott, conductor
This 'Second Child' album follows Kevin Raftery's first portrait recording for Métier, which included his First String Quartet and other chamber works. Here his Second Quartet is partnered with choral works (both sacred and secular), and works for solo piano, violin duo and ensemble. Raftery's music may be mildly dissonant at times and harmonically adventurous, but is always brilliantly constructed: new music which is a joy to hear.
Recorded 29 November 2019 at All Saints' Church, East Finchley, London, UK (String Quartet No 2), 30 July 2018 at Wathen Hall, Barnes, London, UK (Cook From Frozen and Musica Fermata), 16 November 2021 at All Saints’ Church, East Finchley, London, UK (choral works) and 29 September 2021 at St Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, UK (Elegy Upon Elegy).