John Mcabe is one of the great living composers, as prolific and innovatory today as ever. He is revered by today’s performers, who relish the dramatic and emotional intensity of his extraordinarily varied output. This disc stretches from the finely drawn landscapes of his early Movements to the abandon of his Clarinet Quintet which was premiered by Linda Merrick and the Kreutzer Quartet in 2011. McCabe’s music is instantly recognisable, whilst grounded in his dialogue with the composers he admires: Bartok, Haydn, Nielsen, and Beethoven. The performers on this recording have collaborated with the composer for many years, and the composer was deeply involved with every aspect of this recording, resulting in virtuosic performances full of the rigour yet freedom which he cherishes.
"...an impressive recital of striking music in fine performances, recorded in the presence of the composer."
Colin Anderson - International Record Review - June 2012
