#modern comp

(Ashot Danielyan)

Composed by Andras Szekeres

Elizabeth Bailey (soprano), Brno Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mikel Toms. Music by Andrew Webb-Mitchell Words by Joanna Boulter Tasmin Little, violinist The Inspiration of Night was premiered at the Tianjin Grand Theatre in October 2012 by Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra. The text takes us back to the dawn of time suggesting the awe and wonder of primitive man as he gazed towards the heavens, referring particularly to a bronze-age artefact, the Nebra Sky Disc; an amazing and beautiful example of early humanity's craftsmanship and skill in astronomy. The disc was found in a cache of bronze goods, including axes and daggers, in a Bronze Age site at the top of a mountain, the Mittelberg. It is thought that the site would originally have had a good view of the skies and the horizon all around, and might have been used as an observatory. The astronomical information on the disc is particular to the latitude of the location where it was found, so it is likely that the disc was made for and used in the site where it was finally hidden. It has gold-leaf appliqués representing the sun, the moon, and the stars is the oldest visual representation of the cosmos known to date. A cluster of seven dots has previously been interpreted as the Pleiades constellation as it appeared 3,600 years ago. The explanation of the disc's purpose sheds new light on the astronomical knowledge and abilities of the Bronze Age people, who used a combination of solar and lunar calendars as important indicators for agricultural seasons and passage of time. Now as the night enfolds us to cradle our human awaking the dark unfurls her wings. Then souls will stir and wake to skies that encircle the earth with their nightly beauty. Now the pulse of the visiting night still holds our souls enraptured, the cloak of darkness all about us: for we could fear the night yet do not. Stars burst forth with bright display, planets gleam for guidance, constellations arch above us now as night’s veil drops down. Now the firmament shines high over the earth so that we long to show it forth And so by our hands and by our artistry this gleaming metal shines for ever. See the crescent Moon encircle the Bear as they soar above us, Seven Virgin Sisters dancing on high. Here on this disc we show glorious visions of night’s awe and wonder, we map the sky in gold. And so we hold the record of heaven now as night enfolds us in darkness.

Hui Jin (tenor), Brno Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mikel Toms. Music by Andrew Webb-Mitchell Words by Joanna Boulter Tasmin Little, violinist Kites Over Malvern pays tribute to the English composer Edward Elgar, depicting him pursuing his passion for flying kites over the Malvern Hills. As he stands on the hillside, the kites are reeling in the cosmic symphony that he feels all around. He watches the kites soaring skywards and holds himself in readiness to transcribe this enigmatic artistry. One of the pre-eminent musical figures of his time, Elgar bridged the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as the finest English composer since the days of Handel and Purcell. Elgar's most fruitful period was the first decade of the twentieth century, during which he wrote some of his noblest, most expressive music, including the Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55 (1907-1908), and the Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 (1909-1910). His best-known works from this period, however, are the first four of his Pomp and Circumstance Marches (1901-1907); the first of these, subtitled "Land of Hope and Glory," became an unofficial second national anthem for the British Empire. Kites Over Malvern offers a glimpse of the man in his earlier years before public recognition, drawing inspiration from his love of the open countryside and consolation for his artistic isolation. The music lingers in the air and sings on the wind that I hear all around; I know its voice. It lifts the line of the hill, the phrases singing the landscape alive. Turf and soil and rock hear and rouse themselves to wake. Suddenly the winds are strengthening as they curve to the crest of the rise; the kites rejoice. My hand controlling the string my kite up there in the mystical sky, and now it’s riding the rising air, the sway of the breeze and the swell of its breath. They soar and glide and soar again high as all my hopes could ever be, an airy spiralling of sound raising my soul to ecstasy. The string is taut and I’m tuning in my heartstrings to the harmony, the soul of universal sound; the kites are reeling in that cosmic symphony that’s all around. I watch them soaring skywards, and hold myself in readiness to trace the enigmatic artistry that nature shows to us, and I transcribe afresh in mastery. My feet are steady here on earth, turbulent air goes surging high. They soar and glide and soar again climbing high then turning on the wing, an airy spiralling of sound pitched to a heavenly echoing. The string is taut, harmonics haunt the air vibrating in the atmosphere and now they resonate in me, and I repeat their song, become a sounding board for what I hear. And there’s the tower below me: it lifts the city’s heart and soul, and indicates the journey heavenwards that man and music make to take me mounting high in rhapsody. A mighty orchestra of chords, jubilant echoes flying high. And when I soar to greater heights this is where my heart takes up its stay and I will stand in memory where air sings nobilmente. The hills sound forth their deep chorale in grand mysterious harmony that rings through all eternity.

Hui Jin (tenor), Brno Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mikel Toms. Music by Andrew Webb-Mitchell Words by Joanna Boulter Tasmin Little, violinist The Ascent of Gailly examines the inspiration which compels human fortitude to great feats of endurance, and is based on the story of Etienne Gailly, the Belgian marathon runner who only just failed to win the marathon in the 1948 London Olympics. Gailly had never run a marathon before, but traded the lead with more established names throughout the first 26 miles. Despite underestimating the dehydrating effect of the severe and unusual heat and humidity, he beat back challenges on two occasions and for some time it looked as if a big surprise was in the making. He entered the stadium first, shortly ahead of Argentina's Delfo Cabrera and Britain's Thomas Richards. Gailly had barely a lap of the track to complete, but the crowd could see his legs wobbling and his path wavering to and fro. Groans rang out around the stadium as he dried up to a walk and was overtaken by Cabrera and Richards. In a shocking reminiscence of Pietro Dorado collapsing within view of the tape 40 years earlier (the last time the Games had been held in London), Gailly fell to his knees on the home straight. But, to a standing ovation, he straightened up and staggered over the finishing line for a bronze. Heat oppresses me, weighs me down, and it shimmers till my vision is blurring, dimming my aim and my goal. Can I hold on to my lead, this precarious lead, or must others outstrip me, leave me with everything ruined? My body gives way; I stumble, am falling, am passed, and passed again. How can I keep on in vain? For my vanishing hopes are melting away to nothing. Yet something unexpected captures the emotion of the crowd, willing me on to the finish, forcing me back to my feet. willing me on to the finish, forcing me back to my feet. For resolution will brace my strength for the final lap of all, to set me on the chill summits of endeavour with their thin and icy air, to conquer the gleaming peaks of destiny.

'Scenes from the four seasons' is a collection of unreleased tracks and b-sides from 2012, running through the four seasons and stopping at some intimate moments in Winter, a tranquil evening in Autumn, two seaside scenes between Spring and Summer. artwork is "Restleness" by Agnès Caixas, photographer from Barcelona, Spain.  Follow the latest news about Halo: haloproject.co.uk soundcloud.com/haloproject facebook.com/halosphere twitter.com/halotwtr released 03 March 2013 All tracks Composed, Recorded and Mastered by Pasquale Riviezzo. © 2013, All Rights Reserved.

TTAATTOO