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Graham Lynch: Undiscovered Islands |
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Review of a new CD from British composer Graham Lynch |
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Graham Lynch was born in London in 1957. He studied at the Royal College of Music, obtained a PhD in composition at Kings College London, and had lessons with Oliver Knussen. His music has been widely played and broadcast (BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Opera North etc). He also writes tangos and has collaborated with the Belcea Quartet on arrangements of Piazzolla. Listening to Lynch's new CD, Undiscovered Islands, and reading his biography, it's clear he's taken a different route compared to many living Western composers. First, his music is broadly tonal without being dumbed down. Second, he's chosen to live well away from the metropolitan centres. After finishing his studies he moved to a remote part of the West Highlands of Scotland. He now lives in the far south west in Cornwall. Third, there's strong linkage in his music to the non-music arts. Fourth, he moves seamlessly between 'high art' classical music and the tango form, both of which are explored on this CD. Undiscovered Islands reminded me repeatedly of Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain-Fournier. Both works confront the difficult emotion of nostalgia, or remembrance, and produce art which is neither sentimental nor mawkish. Instead, there's a wistful enchantment in Lynch's music as 'lost domains' are recreated and explored. It's emotional, robust, clever music and a joy to hear from a living British composer. The CD - PRCD1024 from Priory Records - is a fine recording by pianist Mark Tanner and flautist Gillian Poznansky. They're a balanced partnership who deploy careful, sensitive tone colours to expose the poignant, elegiac, delicacy of Lynch's music. The sleeve notes are good. More of the same please.  Discuss Graham Lynch's music on Brightcecilia 30th
September 2009
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