The Calm

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
On the front cover, The Calm proclaims itself a disc of "inspired 20th-century classics". In truth, this rather trite statement actually belies the extraordinary quality of much of the music on it and the obvious sensitivity of all the performances. Using the idea of calmness in a deliberately fluid manner, this compilation also kicks into touch the myth that all modern music is inaccessible. Despite being made up of very few notes, Arvo Pärt's Spiegel im Spiegel (for violin and piano) somehow manages to be one of the most hauntingly beautiful works of the 20th century; James MacMillan's Angel uses even fewer and nearly achieves more. The two sections from French composer Olivier Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps have an emotional intensity of an altogether different nature. Written while a prisoner of the Nazis during the darkest days of World War Two, the piece has anguish and tranquillity in almost equal measure (and sometimes simultaneously). Also included are piano pieces by Erik Satie (elegantly played by John Lenehan) and some attractive and moving works for orchestra by Paul Honey and Joseph Curiale. A great introduction to contemporary music. --Stephen Chamberlain

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2007-01-05 rating:
Haunting, anguished and tranquil
An eclectic collection of 20th century classics.

Although entitled the 'The calm', the pieces in the compilation are in equal measure anguished and haunting as they are tranquil and serene.

The pinnacle, in my judgment, comprise the anguished pieces by Olivier Messiaen which are classical masterpieces surpassing in beauty and poignancy even the minimal stellar piece by the Estonian composer Alvo Part 'Spiegel im Spiegel' also present in the compilation. An extreme minimalist piece is Angel by James MacMillan in which one has the feeling that not silences intersperse music but rather music dots intersperse long silences but the effect is ethereally fascinating.

The original and emotionally charged work of Paul Honey is most fulfilling while the simple, elegant and evocative work by Eric Satie provides a correct counterbalance.

The compilation ends appropriately with the imbued with melancholy work by John Adams entitled 'Alone'.

In summary an exquisite collection of contemporary classical pieces which will inspire, soothe but also emotionally charge and fascinate even the most discriminate connoisseur of classical music.


review by: date: 2003-08-16 rating:
An oasis of calm
I bought this album a couple of years ago on a recommendation and I return to it again and again. There are some more familiar composers (Satie, Messain, Arvo Part) coupled with works by lesser known composers such as Paul Honey and James MacMillan. The compilation seems bizarre at first but grows on you and I found it a gentle introduction to more contemporary music. It lives up to its title too: it certainly evokes a calm state in me after a stressful week! Go on, try it!

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