Samuel, Rhian: Copper Ribbons. Solo Harpsichord
£6.50
Written for harpsichordist Jane Chapman, and clearly inspired by her virtuosity, Copper Ribbons is a fantasy-movement of throbbing tremolandi and scrunchy arpeggiated chords that both support and intrude upon a recitative-like ‘line’ of elusive, questioning melody. Exploiting the instruments rich variety of tone colours with a Debussian passion for texture and timbre, the composer here creates a miniature tone-poem, which sustains to its closing bars a sense of mystery and suggestion. The work may stand alone, or as a pair with its companion-piece Silver Threads, which should precede it.