Howard Skempton

Howard Skempton’s music strikes a chord with many listeners through its deceptive simplicity, beauty and accessible nature. A student of Cornelius Cardew, Skempton was greatly influenced by Satie, Cage and Feldman.

This CD of miniatures intersperses choral works with solo piano pieces. The texts for the choral works come from Mary Webb, Edward Thomas, Emerson, Judith Cramond and Longfellow.

Skempton was born in 1947 in Chester, England, and has worked as composer, accordionist and music publisher. His music has appeared on many labels, including Sony Classical, Mode, NMC and Delphian.

EXAUDI was proclaimed by Gramophone magazine as “one of the most sensationally gifted vocal groups performing in the UK at the moment.” Since its debut in 2002, EXAUDI has emerged as one of Britain’s leading contemporary music ensembles with a repertoire that ranges from Ockeghem to Xenakis.

James Weeks founded EXAUDI in 2002, and maintains a busy international touring and recording schedule with the group. He was appointed Musical Director of the New London Chamber Choir in 2007.

Thirty-seven miniatures, among them the cycles Five Poems of Mary Webb, The Mold Riots, Emerson Songs, Nocturnes and Two Poems of Edward Thomas, and piano pieces such as Starlight, Horham, Memorial Prelude, Leamington Spa, The Durham Strike and Snape Interval. Many are first recordings.

Daniel Becker, piano
EXAUDI, James Weeks, director