Various - Matthew Taylor: Chamber Music, Volume Three, Music For Winds

The inspiration of Denmark lies behind much of the music in this recording. The English composer and conductor Matthew Taylor (b. 1964) readily confesses to a fascination with the music of Carl Nielsen, and, as with Nielsen's own music for winds, Taylor's shows a similar blend of symphonic purpose and bucolic humour. Several of the works here take their inspiration directly from Nielsen; indeed, Skal! is a piece of whimsy that consists entirely of quotations from Nielsen's music. The Trio in memoriam VH is a tribute to Vagn Holmboe, the leading Danish composer in the generation after Nielsen. This is the debut recording of The Waldegrave Ensemble, a new London-based wind quintet, who have called in some of their musician friends to join in.