Piano Concerto (The Solway Canal)

Gavin Bryars has for many years shied away from writing for piano, indeed there are only a smattering of works in his catalogue for the instrument. So for him to embark upon his first piano concerto in his 60s was a major undertaking. The technical brilliance and inquisitive mind of the Dutch pianist Ralph van Raat however convinced Bryars that he should take the plunge and add his own addition to the genre. Jointly commissioned by the Borletti Buitoni Trust and Dutch Public Broadcaster NPS, the work focuses on the melodic line and sonorous qualities of the piano with the soloist embedding himself into the orchestral texture. Taking the lead from Busoni, Bryars also includes a male-voice choir in the work who sing settings of Scottish poet Edwin Morgan.