Christopher Gordon: Chamber Music
Magic Fire Ensemble
Magic Fire Music
MFM 007
★★★★
Written by Paul Cooke
Christopher Gordon is an English-born Australian composer. He has been commissioned by ensembles such as the SSO, the ACO and the Omega Ensemble; has provided ballet and dance works for Graeme Murphy; and has composed music for numerous films, including Mao’s last dancer and Ladies in black. Such a curriculum vitae indicates a composer adept at writing approachable music: this collection of chamber music shows his work to be substantial and challenging as well. The Magic Fire Ensemble is a collective name for the musicians gathered for this album, and includes Louise Johnson (harp), Nick Byrne (ophicleide) and cellist and conductor Umberto Clerici.
The 14 compositions vary markedly in length and in instrumental forces. The brief Look away was commissioned by Nick Byrne, who describes it as ‘an elegant, introspective and musically economical piece’. In Dust, the notes played by the eight harpists provide cascading arpeggios and lingering sustained notes. Freefall is a symphony for an ensemble of 12 musicians: it is written in the octatonic scale and is notable for its propulsiveness and instrumental colour.