DESSNER, BRYCE

The Sony Classical debut album "Solos" by Grammy winner Bryce Dessner is a collection of unaccompanied instrumental works that the composer and guitarist has written for classical musician friends. These include cellist Anastasia Kobekina, violinist Pekka Kuusisto, pianist Katia Labèque, harpist Lavinia Meijer, violist Nadia Sirota and percussionist Colin Currie. Bryce Dessner himself can be heard on the guitar. Bryce Dessner explains his compositions on "Solos" as follows: "Writing a solo piece is always a great challenge and joy for me, as you have to be totally attuned to the personality and talent of the player as well as the physicality and resonance of the solo instrument. I wrote the pieces on the album for violin, viola, cello, harp, percussion, guitar and piano and they represent many years of my compositional process. When I started composing, I mainly wrote solo pieces for myself. I have always loved unaccompanied instrumental music, including the solo suites for lute and cello by Bach and the Renaissance lute fantasies by John Dowland, which I used to play myself on the classical guitar. I wrote my compositions for "solos" in the sense of poems, in which the musical language itself determines the form and development - similar to a Shakespearean monologue. This concentrated compositional work gave me the opportunity to explore my relationship with the instruments more deeply. In addition, the compositions also reflect the close friendships I have developed with the incredible musicians who play them. Katia, Pekka, Anastasia, Nadia, Lavinia and Colin are all exceptional artists."

1 Lullaby for Jacques et Brune
Katia Labèque piano
2 Francis
Bryce Dessner guitar
3 Tuusula
Anastasia Kobekina cello
4 Song for Octave
Katia Labèque piano
5 Tromp Miniature
Colin Currie percussion
6 Ornament and Crime I
7 Ornament and Crime II
8 Ornament and Crime III
Pekka Kuusisto violin
9 A Good Person
Katia Labèque piano
10 On a Wire
Lavinia Meijer harp
11 Walls
Bryce Dessner guitar
12 Delphica I
13 Delphica II
Nadia Sirota viola
14 Ornament III Piano
Katia Labèque piano
15 Song for Ainola
Anastasia Kobekina cello