Barrett:
Seven Disobediences for Piano and Ensemble (2018)
The Empire of Lights from 'DARK MATTER' (2000–2001)
khasma from 'DARK MATTER' (1999–2001)
stirrings from 'DARK MATTER' (1999–2001)

This new release from LAWO Classics features recordings of works by contemporary composers Rolf Wallin, Klaus Lang and Richard Barrett, performed here by Norweigan contemporary music ensemble Cikada.

Seven Disobediences is my answer to the tradition of character pieces for piano, such as Debussy's Preludes and Grieg's Lyric Pieces; short, relatively simple but conciseminiatures with a motto, and usually withone prevalent sentiment--like a musicalshort story. The title of each of the sevenpieces is an imperative consisting of fourletters: Seek! Push! Lean! Etc. - Rolf Wallin

Parthenon, or the construction of beauty. In my work as a composer, the two main influences were the Greek and the Japanese tradition of art and thought. Both traditions found ways of representing their worldviews in great pieces of architecture. Architecture mirrors a worldview. parthenon. is reflecting basic assumptions of Greek aesthetics. 'Parthenon' is something like a photographic negative of the Greek structure: In the Greek frieze, marble is used to represent everchanging life; my piece uses the most ephemeral material - sound - to represent architecture. - Klaus Lang

One of the highlights of my compositional activity at the beginning of the 21st century was my collaboration with Cikada and Christian Eggen, which culminated in several runs of performances, and a CD recording, of the extended composition DARK MATTER, a collaboration also with installation artist Per Inge Bjorlo and the Elision Ensemble from Australia. The three pieces recorded here were written for Cikada and performed several times as a "triptych". The performance at Huddersfield was particularly memorable. - Richard Barrett