Tonality is slowly but steadily making its way into the toolbox of contemporary music again. Accomplished orchestral horn player Andrew Lewinter, who returned to composing in 2016 after a long hiatus, thankfully discovered that very toolbox, and the result can be heard on Andrew Lewinter: Chamber Works for Horn, Oboe, Strings & Piano. Two quintets and one trio in classical instrumentation, and the neo-Romantic tonal language to match: it’s a difficult feat to pull off. Lewinter, however, diversifies with minimalist elements and, drawing from his considerable experience as an orchestral performer, imbues his chamber works with symphonic richness. It’s the secret ingredient, and it works...

I have a love/hate relationship with contemporary classical music. It's become all too common for composers to try and find some sort of niche to set themselves apart. Sadly that usually translates into some sort of avant-garde nonsense where the art of delivering emotionally rewarding works is replaced by forcing the audience to sit through painfully unlistenable, self indulgent bland noise.

Thankfully composer Andew Lewinter, on his latest album Chamber Works for Horn, Oboe, Strings & Piano, pulls out all the stops to deliver an emotionally rewarding collection of beautifully melodic pieces.

The album opens with the three part 'Trio for Oboe, Horn and Piano', which reminded me - mainly because it has a similar feel and emotional depth - of Geoffrey Burgon's work on the BBC's '80s/'90s The Chronicles of Narnia series. The three parts are slowly unraveled offering a promising start to the collection.

'Quintet for Oboe and Strings' is another three part work that shifts and changes as it moves ever forwards. There's an eerie undercurrent to the first part: 'Allegro'. Whereas 'Adagio' is more pastoral, with the concluding 'Rondo' having an air of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

'Quintet for Horn and Strings' wonderfully mixes the horn and strings section to produce a work that's whimsical at times, whilst being grounded in emotive themes that reach in and touch your soul. The closing of the second movement, 'Adagio' is especially moving.

Lewinter delivers a wonderfully melodic collection here, which is rewarding on almost every level.

9

Darren Rea