Mr McFall’s Chamber is a flexible and enterprising ensemble founded by SCO violinist Robert McFall. Its repertoire ranges from tango and jazz to rock and contemporary classical. The ensemble has made three CD recordings on its own label (available from us), but this new disc is its first 'commercial' release. Focusing on the music of Gavin Bryars, it's an interesting disc that includes two premiere recordings. The Church Closest to the Sea, commissioned by the ensemble in 2007, is a beautiful, atmospheric and imaginative piece. Inspired by a visit to St Monans in Fife, it is scored for string quartet, double bass (played pizzicato throughout), piano and percussion. The ebb and flow of the first section evokes quite uncannily the feel of a typical East coast haar, while the middle section is livelier, the piano and vibraphone setting up bell-like repeated figures which are overlaid by string solos. The last section is a translucent mix of violin harmonics, bowed vibraphone and sustained quiet trills. Bryars’ song cycle Eight Irish Madrigals is the disc's most substantial work, setting Irish poet J M Synge's translations of eight sonnets by Petrarch on the death of the maiden Laura. It features tenor, soprano, and an unusual string quartet line-up of two violas, cello and bass. The chromatic nature of the writing is reminiscent of Gesualdo, whose music particularly interests Bryars, but the fluidity of the vocal lines owes more to Finzi. Nicholas Mulroy expresses eloquently the longing, sorrow and passion of the lover left behind, shadowed with ghostly restraint by Susan Hamilton, although ultimately I was frustrated by the composer’s lack of development of the material. Epilogue from Bryars’ 1994 dance work Wonderlawn is a gentle, warm, tender piece, evolving from a simple series of harmonies played on the piano into an extended melody for viola. I enjoyed this disc very much, and would urge you to give the music (and Mr McFall’s Chamber) a try!


Reviewed by Anne McAlister