2020
'Abat-jour', for mezzo-soprano and piano. Text by Pierre Reverdy (trans. Mary Ann Caws). Part of the Isolation Songbook, commissioned and premiered by Helen Charlston, with Alexander Soares, piano, in association with City Music Foundation. Recorded by Delphian Records, CD release date March 26th 2021.
"For Abat-jour, Andrew Brixey-Williams uses an English translation of a poem by Pierre Reverdy (poet, French Resistance fighter, friend of Coco Chanel) to create a thoughtful mood picture for mezzo-soprano and piano from expressionist vocal lines and spare harmonies." (Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill)
"Brixey-Williams’ music conveys strikingly the poem’s mood of intimate isolation. Helen Charlston and Alexander Soares distil a very strong atmosphere." (John Quinn, MusicWeb International)
"a lovely, accomplished miscellany of composers, poets and moods" (Fiona Maddocks, Guardian)
seenandheard-international.com/2022/03/two-wigmore-recitals-of-clara-schumann-and-friends-first-helen-charlston-then-louise-alder/
www.chandos.net/chanimages/Booklets/DC4253.pdf

The Isolation Songbook was awarded one of two Highly Commended awards in the Classical Music Digital Awards 2020.
We’re also delighted to have been chosen as a Presto Classical 'Editor's Choice'.
Abat-jour has been performed at Oxford Lieder, October 2021, and at the Wigmore Hall, March 2022, by Helen Charlston and Sholto Kynoch, on both occasions.
It was also broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in March 2022 as part of a performance recorded by the BBC at Birmingham University.
Available on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming services.
'At the edge of time' , for baritone and piano. Text by Pierre Reverdy. Dedicated to Michael Craddock.
'Affairs of the Cat', for alto and piano. Dedicated to Katharine Elvin. Four feline haiku settings and a little coda (Haiku by Buson, Issa, Saimaro).
'In Memoriam Oliver Knussen', for piano, violin, viola & cello. A reworking of a piece written during my time studying with Ollie, and dedicated to his memory.
2021
'Ensemble', for cor anglais & cello, two violins and viola. Dedicated to Christine Pendrill and Joe Kirby, and to all musicians whose art and livelihoods have been so disrupted. A piece about isolation and hope.
'To Fashion', for baritone voice and piano. Dedicated to my son, Theo. Three songs on the theme of fashion. Texts by Pablo Neruda (‘Ode to my Socks’), Gertrude Stein (‘A Long Dress’) and Mark Doty (‘Couture, 2’).
2022
'...this wild joy' A song-cycle setting ancient and more modern poetry about impermanence, awareness, and the joy of encounters with nature. For mezzo-soprano, baritone, alto flute, bass clarinet, piano and viola. You can download the score below for perusal purposes only. All Rights Reserved. Duration: around 20 mins.
'....title to be decided'
Currently on hold, this is a collaboration with acclaimed poet, Jo Bell, the Poetry Society and Canal & River Trust's inaugural Canal Laureate. Dedicated to two musician friends (both narrowboaters), it's to be scored for mezzo or tenor, cor anglais and piano - the instruments of its dedicatees. Jo's canal poems deal eloquently with alternative paths through the landscape, an altered sense of time and place.
Stilling
Work in progress combining a tapestry of hundreds of shakuhachi recordings from players around the world, with live piano. I'll update this further shortly.
'At the edge of time' , for baritone and piano. Text by Pierre Reverdy. Dedicated to Michael Craddock.
'Affairs of the Cat', for alto and piano. Dedicated to Katharine Elvin. Four feline haiku settings and a little coda (Haiku by Buson, Issa, Saimaro).
'In Memoriam Oliver Knussen', for piano, violin, viola & cello. A reworking of a piece written during my time studying with Ollie, and dedicated to his memory.
2021
'Ensemble', for cor anglais & cello, two violins and viola. Dedicated to Christine Pendrill and Joe Kirby, and to all musicians whose art and livelihoods have been so disrupted. A piece about isolation and hope.
'To Fashion', for baritone voice and piano. Dedicated to my son, Theo. Three songs on the theme of fashion. Texts by Pablo Neruda (‘Ode to my Socks’), Gertrude Stein (‘A Long Dress’) and Mark Doty (‘Couture, 2’).
2022
'...this wild joy' A song-cycle setting ancient and more modern poetry about impermanence, awareness, and the joy of encounters with nature. For mezzo-soprano, baritone, alto flute, bass clarinet, piano and viola. You can download the score below for perusal purposes only. All Rights Reserved. Duration: around 20 mins.
'....title to be decided'
Currently on hold, this is a collaboration with acclaimed poet, Jo Bell, the Poetry Society and Canal & River Trust's inaugural Canal Laureate. Dedicated to two musician friends (both narrowboaters), it's to be scored for mezzo or tenor, cor anglais and piano - the instruments of its dedicatees. Jo's canal poems deal eloquently with alternative paths through the landscape, an altered sense of time and place.
Stilling
Work in progress combining a tapestry of hundreds of shakuhachi recordings from players around the world, with live piano. I'll update this further shortly.

...this wild joy' -full score | |
File Size: | 821 kb |
File Type: |