Search - James [2] MacMillan, Nash Ensemble, John York :: MacMillan: Kiss On Wood

The masterpiece on this disc is the Cello Sonata that James MacMillan completed in 1999 for cellist Raphael Wallfisch and pianist John York, providing further evidence that MacMillan is one of the most vibrantly communicative composers of our time. Cast in two movements, each lasting about 11 minutes, it's a work of extraordinary power, abundant character, and great imaginative scope. Repeated hearings merely strengthen one's admiration for the effortless mastery with which MacMillan wields his striking material into a wholly satisfying organic and dramatic whole. As John York puts it in his personable booklet notes, it's a piece that, from the hauntingly beautiful opening bars right up to its seraphic close, "always feels and sounds right and significant." Suffice it to say, Wallfisch and York bring a wealth of intense feeling and dedication to both this and the scarcely less memorable Kiss on Wood (originally written, in 1993, for violin and piano). York also lends exemplary advocacy to three contrasting solo pieces (sample the ecstatic, profoundly contemplative Angel--very much a case of "less is more"), while proceedings are launched with the Nash Ensemble's immaculately poised realization of the Fourteen Little Pictures for piano trio (1997)--a less rewarding achievement than the sonata, but always sparkily inventive. An outstanding release in every way. --Andrew Achenbach