Stirring orchestral magnificence
P. Blight | Australia | 12/22/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This music waited a long time to get the recording treatment it deserved. Ant and Harry first wrote and demoed it in 1975, but it took until 1987 for some discerning (and financial) friends of Phillips' to make possible a full orchestral version. The inspiration for this work is the book "Tarka The Otter", written by Harry's father Henry Williamson, and the music, originally intended for a film soundtrack based on the book, takes on a filmic quality of its own. A most rewarding and emotive musical experience, superbly constructed and executed. In fact, a largely unsung work of genius."
This is a superb CD
P. Blight | 10/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the only recent CD from Ant I've heard that is truly inspired throughout. "Tarka" has a symphonic treatment that is neither pretentious nor boring. It starts with an acoustic guitar duet and transistions nicely throughout the other classical movements. It all ends too soon with "Postlude - the Anthem," which is more melodic than symphonic, but fits nicely with the whole "concept" of the work. Brilliant."