Out Now on Redshift Records
“Linda Catlin Smith Revels in Introverted Confidence with Sensuous, Idiosyncratic Album ‘Dark Flower’”
“rich string sound, clever use of space and silence, and the captivating openness that creates anticipation and engagement.”
Graphic Design by Kristin Messina
“exquisitely somber, recommended to anyone who finds solace in music’s darker timbers”
We are thrilled to announce the release of TENMC's first solo album, Dark Flower on Redshift Records- featuring the music of revered Canadian composer, Linda Catlin Smith. Dark Flower has made its way to Bandcamp’s Best Contemporary Classical Music of 2023, and prestigious Adventures in New Music's top 10 list of 2023 released by The Wire. The album has also caught the attention of various radio stations and media outlets, including CBC Radio, BBC Radio 3, WPPM, WRUU, and Musica Kaleidoscopea, amongst others, with insightful interviews highlighting Linda Catlin Smith's music background and history of working with our collective.
Dark Flower sees internationally acclaimed Canadian composer Linda Catlin Smith collaborating directly with Toronto-based ensemble Thin Edge New Music Collective—a group that has been playing her music consistently since their debut concert in 2011. The album’s centrepiece is the 26-minute long titular work for violin, viola, cello and piano, which the ensemble commissioned from Smith in 2020. It also features several other pieces of hers that had never been recorded prior to this release, each selected by the composer and the ensemble. Under the direction of violinist Ilana Waniuk and pianist Cheryl Duvall (whose 2019 recording of Anna Höstman’s music garnered positive coverage from several noted critics), Thin Edge New Music Collective treats the composer’s gradual, idiosyncratic lyricism with all of the warmth, curiosity and patience it demands of its interpreters. Smith’s engagement with every aspect of the recording (which has not always been present on her commercial releases) also imparts a certain intimacy, resulting in one the finest and most captivating documents of Smith’s music to date. - Nick Storring (Riparian Acoustics)
TRACKS
1. Wanderer (2009 rev 2022) clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion
2. Duo for 2 Cellos (2015)
3. Dark Flower* (2020) piano, violin, viola, cello
4. Dreamer Murmuring (2014) piano, violin, cello
5. With Their Shadows Long (1997) for violin and piano
6. Unbroken, for Howard Skempton (2017) piano
Thin Edge New Music Collective:
Cheryl Duvall, piano; Anthony Thompson, clarinet;Nathan Petitpas, percussion; Ilana Waniuk, violin; Aysel Taghi-Zada, viola; Amahl Arulanandam, cello (tracks 1-3); Dobrochna Zubek, cello, (tracks 2,4)
Produced by David Jaeger
Recorded by Dennis Patterson at Noble St. Studios assisted by Mike Gnocato
Edited, mixed and mastered by Dennis Patterson at Big Smoke Audio
Liner Notes by Nick Storring
Artwork and Graphic Design by Kristin Messina
TENMC Photography by Shayne Gray
Hair and Makeup by Alba Feinaj and Angela Lee
Linda Catlin Smith Photography by Claire Harvey
Recorded at Noble Street Studios, Toronto, January 3-5, 2023
*Dark Flower was commissioned by Thin Edge New Music Collective with generous support from the Ontario Arts Council
Thin Edge New Music Collective would like to thank the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts for their generous support of this recording. Special thanks to Linda Catlin, Dennis Patterson, David Jaeger and our intrepid TENMC family.
Photo Credit: Claire Harvey
Artwork/Graphic Design: Kristin Messina
Raging Against the Machine is a collaborative project featuring Montreal-based Ensemble Paramirabo and Toronto-based Thin Edge New Music Collective. Inspired by the driving rhythmic nature of Steve Reich’s Pulitzer prize winning Double Sextet and Louis Andriessen’s Workers Union, this project was the impetus behind the creation of three fascinating Canadian works: Hum for double sextet by Brian Harman (Toronto/Montreal), Fog by Anna Höstman(Toronto) and Le Sel de la Terre by Patrick Giguère (Montreal). RATM aims to establish meaningful connections between artists with distinct geographical, cultural and linguistic identities.
“An appealing symmetry articulates Raging Against the Machine’s trajectory, subtly tracing evocative and discursive responses to the daunting present, not through retreat but through resolute creativity and supportive collaboration.”
“Two impressive new music ensembles came together to produce this outstanding album of modern repertoire. There are atmospheric pieces from younger composers, but what punches out of the speakers are the bookends. An exhilarating, gripping performance of Steve Reich’s Double Sextet, and the determination of force of Louis Andriessen’s “Worker’s Union”. Both of these are among the finest versions of these pieces ever put on record.”
TRACKS
1-3. Double Sextet (2007) – Steve Reich
4. Le Sel de la Terre (2015) – Patrick Giguère
5. Hum (2015) – Brian Harman
6. Fog (2015) – Anna Höstman
7. Workers Union (1975) – Louis Andriessen
Ensemble Paramirabo: Jeffrey Stonehouse, flutes; François Gagné, clarinet; Geneviève Liboiron, violin; Viviana Gosselin, cello; Gabrielle Gingras, piano; Daniel Anez, piano; Zachary Hale, percussion
Thin Edge New Music Collective: Cheryl Duvall, piano; Nathan Petitpas, percussion; Anthony Thompson, clarinets; Sarah Yunji Moon, flute; Amber Walton-Amar, cello; Ilana Waniuk, violin
Producer: David Jaeger
Recording Engineer: Dennis Patterson
Assistant Recording Engineer: Paul Hodge
Graphic Design: Kristin Messina
Recorded at Glenn Gould Studios, Toronto, January 2016
Get a copy of Raging against the Machine from:
Physical CD: BANDCAMP
Digital: iTUNES AMAZON GOOGLE PLAY BANDCAMP
www.thethinedgenewmusiccollective.com
www.ensembleparamirabo.com
Ensemble Paramirabo and Thin Edge New Music Collective would like to thank the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for their generous support of this recording. Special thanks to Arraymusic, David Jaeger, Dennis Patterson, Stéphane Tremblay, Roger Moore, Jordan Nobles, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Toronto Arts Council, SOCAN Foundation, The Music Gallery, New Music Edmonton, Music on Main/The Little Chamber Music Series That Could, Open Space Victoria.
TK449 © 2017 Redshift Music