University of York Music Press

"This CD is a great gift to the Lithuanian culture. These praises that Sadie Harrison lavishes on the Lithuanian performers should really be addressed to the composer herself. It is quite amazing how well the talented, intellectual and emotionally charged artist manages to capture and re-interpret the character and national identity encoded in our folk songs. These suggestive, dramatic, deeply felt pieces that convey the feeling of immense space, the smoky depths of Lithuanian landscape, picturesque and touching, - are true revelations indeed. We witness the spiritual connection at the highest level, which transcends all geographical and cultural boundaries. The past - with its refined and intensely pure musical language - appears to be in constant struggle with the present and, perhaps, even the future. Not so much a picture of doom but more of a fruitful, if at times fateful, dialog between the modernity and tradition. In contrast, the ends of several of the pieces tend to lighten up and often capture an extraordinary light emerging from the depth of the Lithuanian tunes. There is another lesson in this testament to our culture. Our authentic musical heritage is immensely vital and capable of giving to people of different cultures spectacular spiritual gifts - to inspire, elevate and present with the whole range of values, - the values that we ourselves, unfortunately, tend to forget too often."

Journal of the Lithuanian Music Society, July 2008

For more information or to purchase the CD go to NMC's website

To purchase the scores of the works performed on this release: An Unexpected Light Geda's Weavings Songs for Rusne '...an angel reads my open book' The Bride's Journey in 'Three Songs and a Memory'