Knussen Snapshots

London Sinfonietta/ George Benjamin
Rolf Hind & Nicolas Hodges (piano)

Louis Andriessen Very Sharp Trumpet Sonata*
Charles Wuorinen Fifty Fifty *
Alexander Goehr only two notes for olly (the other five for later) *
Detlev Glanert Dancing Landscape *
Elliott Carter Au Quai *
Hans Werner Henze Olly on the Shore
Augusta Read Thomas Light the First Light of Evening *
Robert Zuidam I suppose a Fugue is out of the Question *
Colin Matthews Flourish, with fireflies *
Julian Anderson Quasi una Passacaglia *
Mark-Anthony Turnage Snapshots *
George Benjamin Olicantus *
Magnus Lindberg Bubo bubo *

LondonSinfonietta SINF CD1-2004 [TT 41' 41"]

Self-publishing; own labels. Those have been crucial challenges to the heartless accountancy which drives the large record companies and determines what not to record and, so painfully for collectors, what to delete.

London Sinfonietta will have been central to followers of new music worldwide for nearly four decades and Oliver Knussen as one of their key conductors and composers for several of them. This very personal and affectionate 50th birthday tribute is at the same time a concentrated introduction, for those who don't know some of them, to a baker's dozen of accomplished and original composers now before the public who have been championed by LS and OK (Elliot Carter, in a pithy little duo, uses Olly's initials for his 3 minute Au Quai !).

Superbly played by the LS under George Benjamin, with solo and duo piano items interposed (Rolf Hind and colleagues), impeccably recorded live by the BBC at Knussen's birthday concert in June 2002, this LS launch CD is a propitious newcomer and more must follow.

Production and documentation are totally comprehensive, with composer and performer biographies, and everyone listed. The thirteen specially commissioned pieces and birthday gifts last only 42 event-filled minutes, but absolutely no matter; these Snapshots may be miniature occasional pieces, but each is characteristic of its composer and the disc is worth re-hearing until you know them all. Purchase at £11.50p from www.londonsinfonietta.org.uk/cds