Elision Ensemble

Music of Giulio CASTAGNOLI, Chris DENCH, Michael WHITICKER and Brendan COLBERT ELISION Ensemble, Sandro GORLI conductor RCA BMG/Ariola CCD 3011 Total timing 61:43 Released 1992

Giulio CASTAGNOLI Sei Haiku (1989) 29:45

voice, flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, mandolin, guitar, harp, violin, viola, contrabass, percussion 1, percussion 2

Chris DENCH driftglass (1991) 10:43

percussion solo and five amplified instruments Peter NEVILLE percussion solo

Michael WHITICKER In Prison Air (1988) 10:22

amplified guitar and tape

Brendan COLBERT Altered States (1988) 10:53

mandolin, guitar, harpsichord and percussion

Critical Acclaim

The recording opens with Sei Haiku, a 1989 composition by  . . .  Giulio Castagnoli. Immediately, a fascination with timbre is revealed that marks out all the composers represented here. The ensemble of flute, clarinet/bass, mandolin, guitar, harp, violin, viola, double bass and percussion yield some very unusual colorings and the last two haiku use the voice to great effect.

I was  . . .  struck by the creativity of In Prison Air (1988) of Michael Whiticker. A virtuoso guitar part is accompanied by a prepared tape that, among other things evokes the dripping of water into a prison cell. This haunting work was well worth recording.

--Tony Way The Age Green Guide, 21 October 1993

Performers and Production

Paula RAE flute/piccolo, Jane ROBERTSON clarinet/E flat clarinet, Brett KELLY trombone, Dellyth STAFFORD harp, Daryl BUCKLEY electric guitar, Stephen MOREY mandolin, Peter NEVILLE percussion, Patrick CARROLL percussion 2, Susan PIEROTTI violin, Jennifer CURL viola, Kirsty McCAHON contrabass, Julie EDWARDSON mezzo soprano

Sandro GORLI conductor

Riccardo FORMOSA producer, Jim ATKINS engineer, Michael COSTA digital editing, Stephen SNELLEMAN project producer, Richard TOOP cover notes, Ugo NESPOLO cover design, Guido PODESTÀ executive producer

Recorded March 1991, ABC Waverley Studios, Melbourne. Released by RCA BMG/Ariola, Milano. CCD 3011. Total timing 61:43 (DDD).