The varied musical styles on this disc reflect composer Ross Edwards’ eclectic musical interests. Opening with the jaunty and syncopated White Ghost Dancing (inspired by Aboriginal rhythms but sounding a bit like Stravinsky), the program moves to a neo-baroque Veni Creator Spiritus for string octet. The Concerto for Guitar and Strings displays evocative guitar writing (masterfully performed by Karin Schaupp) as well as Edwards’ predilection for uneven meters–an attribute that’s prominent throughout this collection.
Given the predominantly melodic nature of the preceding works, Mountain Village in a Clearing Mist is surprisingly modernist, with eerie dissonances and shadowy orchestral timbres that suggest a scene from a suspense film. Finally, the two-movement string quartet Enyato I brings together the archaic (Chorale) and the rhythmic (Ecstatic Dance) elements of Edwards’ style into one intriguing work. Conductor Richard Mills and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra offer persuasive performances of all Edwards’ works, no matter the style, and ABC Classics provides clear, spacious sound for large and small ensembles alike.
