Mark Bowden: Sudden Light O. Coates

• 1 I. Allegro molto 07:07
• 2 II. Adagio e lontano 09:11
• 3 III. Vivo con anima 06:29
• 4 I. Lightness 02:23
• 5 II. Quickness 03:01
• 6 III. Exactitude 04:35
• 7 IV. Visibility 02:51
• 8 V. Multiplicity 03:45
• 9 I. Allegro con brio 09:13
• 10 II. Andante e oscuro 08:33
• 11 III. Allegretto ritmico 04:47
• 12 Sudden Light 06:52
• Total Runtime 01:08:47

Info for Mark Bowden: Sudden Light

Mark Bowden's passion for orchestral writing and exploring its enormous timbral range is evident on his debut album of works written over the last decade.

The intoxicating Lyra (2011) for cello and orchestra was described 'as a richly allusive work of considerable scope and ambition' by Seen and Heard International and was Bowden's first commission, as resident composer, for BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW). The solo cello part calls for a blistering technique and was written for Oliver Coates, who performs on this recording. The work's title and inspiration has multiple references: a constellation of stars, a bass viol from the seventeenth century, a class of Russian nuclear-powered submarines and the lead character in Philip Pullman's fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials.

Heartland (2012), also commissioned by BBC NOW, was created as both a standalone percussion concerto and a ballet score for the National Dance Company Wales. The Times review of its World Premiere said that the work 'bubbles with fluid, spicy rhythms and pretty celestial ruminations ... watching Julian Warburton play it was a fascinating show in itself’. Sudden Light (2005) was inspired by Marcus du Sautoy’s book The Music of the Primes and explores the play of consonance and dissonance through the overtones of the harmonic series.

As a contrast to the orchestral works on this album, Five Memos (2015) is a light, airy interplay between violin and piano, performed beautifully by Hyeyoon Park (violin) and Huw Watkins (piano).

Oliver Coates, cello
Hyeyoon Park, violin
Huw Watkins, piano
Julian Warburton, percussion
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Grant Llewellyn, conductor

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