MacMillan: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2; Kiss on Wood; Northern Skies

I was anticipating eagerly this new release of MacMillan’s works for cello and piano on the Deux-Elles label, and it certainly did not disappoint! From the opening bars of the Cello Sonata No.1, where a sublime suspension is created by the entry of rippling piano chords beneath the cello’s yearning melody, I was engrossed. It is obvious, both from reading the sleeve notes and from listening to the conviction in his playing, that Henri Demarquette is a passionate admirer of MacMillan’s music: “The author creates a personal language, a powerfully expressive, evocative force…the works recorded on this disc reflect the creation of a man whose religious, philosophical and political convictions are expressed by profound music.” Demarquette and Scott play with tremendous clarity and, as a duo, they capture perfectly the contrasts in character, at times sinister, at others ethereal.

A notable feature of this disc is the world premiere recording of MacMillan’s Cello Sonata No.2, which was written two years after the first sonata in 2000. It is a darker work than the Cello Sonata No.1 and whilst it is less instantly appealing, it certainly deserves a second hearing. Demarquette speaks of MacMillan’s music as being “reminiscent of Bartók”, and the relentless rhythms and explosive dynamics at the start of the second cello sonata seem to underline his point.

The other works on the CD are equally interesting. Kiss on Wood, a religiously-inspired one-movement work, depicts the sadness of its subject: it is based on a Good Friday versicle in which worshippers are invited to kiss the wood of the cross. Northern Skies is a set of seven miniatures written for children which, though simpler than many of MacMillan’s compositions, still leaves the listener with an overwhelming feeling of melancholy. A fascinating disc, I would recommend it both as an introduction to MacMillan’s music and as a worthwhile addition to an established collection.