Songs & Lullabies: New Works for Solo Cello Robert Irvine

• 1 Elegiac Lullaby 03:59
• 2 Elegy for the Children of War 05:00
• 3 Miranda Dreaming 04:25
• 4 Zarabanda 04:13
• 5 Winter Song 03:36
• 6 Caolas 05:47
• 7 Invocation and Waltz for Children in Need 04:56
• 8 Safety 03:46
• 9 Misremembrance 03:58
• 10 Amelies Tango 02:51
• 11 Ride Through 03:18
• 12 Untitled (For Robert Irvine) 02:38
• 13 Tili tili Bom 06:34
• 14 Baloue 05:02
• 15 Knock Knock 02:11
• 16 Imagined Child 03:54
• 17 A Frieze and a Litany 04:55
• 18 Lament 04:13
• 19 Elegy (For Peter) 04:32
• Total Runtime 01:19:48

Info for Songs & Lullabies: New Works for Solo Cello

Inspired by the plight of disadvantaged and mistreated children around the world, Delphian artist Robert Irvine has commissioned 18 new pieces for solo cello. As a musician who works at the heart of the English and Scottish scenes, he is able to draw on an impressive roster of friends and colleagues that includes some of the UKs leading composers. Each of them has contributed a short solo piece, drawing out the cellos most lyrical aspects, while Irvines own startling alertness to the finest expressive nuance further enhances this unique recording project.

Over the course of his rich and varied career, Irvine has held principal positions with the Scottish Opera Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Britten Pears Orchestra, and was a founding member of the Brindisi String Quartet and Da Vinci Piano Trio. A regular Delphian artist, he has appeared on a disc of Dallapiccolas chamber music (DCD34020); with Graeme McNaught on a much-lauded recording of Rachmaninov and Shostakovich cello sonatas (DCD34034); and with Fali Pavri a recording of Giles Swaynes music for cello and piano (DCD34073). He is artistic director of Delphians contemporary music group Red Note Ensemble, which has a busy schedule of projects throughout the UK and Europe. Irvine has broadcast frequently as soloist and chamber musician on BBC television and BBC Radio 3, and is a senior professor of cello and chamber music and Head of Cello Studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Robert Irvine, cello

Robert Irvine
was born in Glasgow, and at the age of 16 was awarded a scholarship to the Royal College of Music where he studied with Christopher Bunting and Amaryllis Fleming. Whilst there he won most of the major prizes in chamber music and solo playing.

On leaving the Royal College, he went on to further studies with William Pleeth and Pierre Fournier before joining the Philharmonia as sub principal cello. He also worked extensively at Aldeburgh, forming the Brindisi String Quartet and working closely with Sir Peter Pears as continuo cellist and as principal cellist of the Britten Pears Orchestra. At this time he toured much of Europe with the Brindisi Quartet, making numerous festival appearances and broadcasts.

He left the Philharmonia in 1988 to take up the position of principal cello with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, touring all over the world. In 1990, he returned to Scotland to take up the post of principal cellist with Scottish Opera, and with Sally Beamish and James MacMillan founded the Chamber Group of Scotland, performing and broadcasting a wide range of music both chamber and solo.

He has recorded several CDs, including recordings of Rachmaninov and Shostakovich Cello sonatas, as well as the complete cello works of Sally Beamish for the Swedish label BIS, which received high critical acclaim, including CD of the month in the Gramophone magazine.

At present, Robert is a senior tutor of Cello and Chamber Music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. He is also the artistic co-director of the Red Note ensemble, a Glasgow based contemporary music ensemble. With Red Note he performs regularly around Scotland, and collaborates with the RSAMD contemporary ensemble MusicLab.

Robert plays on a fine Venetian cello by Gofriller from 1725, kindly loaned to him by Renagour Rare Instruments.

Booklet for Songs & Lullabies: New Works for Solo Cello