An Evening Hymn Anton Batagov

• Anonymous:
• 1 A Galyarde 05:33
• Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695):
• 2 Chaconne in G Minor, Z. T680, "Timon of Athens" 05:20
• John Dowland (1563 - 1626):
• 3 Melancholy Galliard, P. 25 04:35
• John Bull (1563 - 1628):
• 4 Galiarda 03:54
• Anonymous:
• 5 My Lady Wynkfylds Rownde 03:26
• Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695):
• 6 A Choice Collection of Lessons: Suite No. 1 in G Major, Z. 660 05:04
• William Byrd (1538 - 1623):
• 7 My Ladye Nevels Grownde 08:07
• Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695):
• 8 Ground in C Minor, Z. D221 04:47
• John Bull (1563 - 1628):
• 9 In nomine IX (Musica Britannica, Vol. 14, No. 28) 04:46
• John Dowland (1563 - 1626):
• 10 Mrs. Vaux's Jig, P. 57: Mrs. Vaux's Jig 02:28
• Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695):
• 11 Abdelazar, Z. 570, "The Moor's Revenge" 08:17
• Anonymous:
• 12 My Lady Careys Dompe 05:23
• John Dowland (1563 - 1626):
• 13 The Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Lisle, His Galliard 06:38
• Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695):
• 14 Now that the sun hath veiled his light, Z. 193, "An Evening Hymn on a Ground" (arr. for piano) 11:19
• Total Runtime 01:19:37

Info for An Evening Hymn

Pianist and composer Anton Batagov presents his latest album An Evening Hymn. In the program are works by Henry Purcell, John Dowland, John Bull, William Byrd, and anonymous English composers of the early 16th century. One of the most influential Russian musicians of our time, Anton Batagov is a composer and musician of rare skill and versatility. He has composed music for a surprising number of settings from chamber music to film music, from a computer opera to collaborations with Central Asia Buddhist leaders. As a performer, Batagov introduced the music of John Cage, Morton Feldman, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass to Russian audiences.

Anton Batagov, piano

Recorded by Mikhail Spassky at Cinelab studios, August 2017
Engineered by Jacob Zakhvatkin
Edited, mixed and mastered by Mikhail Spassky at The Grand Hall studios, Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, October – December 2017
Piano: Steinway D
Microphones: Elation KM 901, RM BIV-1, Schoeps MK4

Anton Batagov
The Russian composer, pianist and electronic musician, Anton Batagov, graduated from the Gnessin School and the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He was prize-winner at the International Tchaikovsky Competition (1986) and other competitions.

Anton Batagov introduced the music by John Cage, Morton Feldman, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass to Russian audiences. His discographical debut was a recording of Olivier Messiaen's Vingt regards sur l'Enfant Jesus for Melodiya. From 1989 to 1996 he was one of the leaders and organizers of the Alternativa, the annual international new music festival in Moscow.

Heralded as “one of the most significant and unusual figures of Russian contemporary music” (Newsweek, Russian edition, 1997) and "a Russian Terry Riley" (Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 2008), Anton Batagov is one of the most influential Russian composers and performers of our time. The post-Cagean philosophy of Batagov's projects eliminates any boundaries between "performance" and "composition" by viewing all existing musical practices - from ancient rituals to rock and pop culture and advanced computer technologies - as potential elements of performance and composition. The well-known American musicologist Richard Kostelanetz characterized Batagov's 1993 piano recording of J.S. Bach’s The Art of the Fugue (BWV 1080) as "the most stunning interpretation of Bach since Glenn Gould."

The post-minimalist language of Batagov’s compositions is rooted in the harmonic and rhythmic patterns of Russian church bells, Old Believer chants, and folk songs seamlessly mixed with the spirit of Western minimalism, the dynamic pulse of the early Soviet avant-garde, and the unfading scent of rock music. His works feature a unique sense of large-scale architecture and textured emotionalism.

Anton Batagov's discography includes over 30 CD releases. He is the author of several movie soundtracks, and the number one composer of original music for Russian television. Since 1997, he has composed over 3,000 tunes for the major Russian TV channels.

In 1997 Anton Batagov stopped performing live, and since then, he has been focusing on studio recordings. Most of his works written since the late 1990's are deeply influenced by Buddhist philosophy and practice. He has written a number of major works based on a keystone Buddhist texts chanted by Tibetan lamas as well as several large-scale instrumental compositions inspired by Buddhist teachings.

In 2009 Anton Batagov received the prestigious national Steppenwolf Award in the Best Music category.

In 2009, after 12 years of self-imposed exile from concert activities, Batagov returned to live performances, and immediately confirmed his status as a legendary performer.

This album contains no booklet.