Last Notes
Eric Biddington composer
Navona Records presents LAST NOTES, an album tracing the musical footprint of composer Eric Biddington’s compositional history through revived works of the past. Some written nearly 30 years ago, the unearthed gems featured on this album speak in a fresh tone, effusing elegance and thoughtfulness across varied orchestrations and moods. From the tender sentiments teeming in Peace for Julie to the playful nature of A Little Dance and his deeply moving passages for bassoon and piano, Biddington covers a wide gamut of expression in these chamber works.
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Track Listing & Credits
| # | Title | Composer | Performer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | A Little Dance | Eric Biddington | David McGregor, clarinet; Alison Holden, piano | 3:31 |
| 02 | Introit for Solo Violin and String Quintet | Eric Biddington | Kathy Irons, solo violin; Isaac Shatford, violin; Amandine Guerin, violin; Sharon Baylis, viola; Tomas Hurnik, cello; Ross Radford, double bass | 5:41 |
| 03 | Four Preludes: I. | Eric Biddington | Alison Holden, piano | 1:04 |
| 04 | Four Preludes: II. | Eric Biddington | Alison Holden, piano | 1:30 |
| 05 | Four Preludes: III. | Eric Biddington | Alison Holden, piano | 1:43 |
| 06 | Four Preludes: IV. | Eric Biddington | Alison Holden, piano | 1:56 |
| 07 | Trio No. 2 for Two Oboes and Piano: I. | Eric Biddington | Jenny Johnson, oboe; Ashleigh Mowbray, oboe; Alison Holden, piano | 2:40 |
| 08 | Trio No. 2 for Two Oboes and Piano: II. | Eric Biddington | Jenny Johnson, oboe; Ashleigh Mowbray, oboe; Alison Holden, piano | 3:57 |
| 09 | Trio No. 2 for Two Oboes and Piano: III. | Eric Biddington | Jenny Johnson, oboe; Ashleigh Mowbray, oboe; Alison Holden, piano | 1:57 |
| 10 | Two Romances for Oboe and Piano: I. | Eric Biddington | Ashleigh Mowbray, oboe; Alison Holden, piano | 2:36 |
| 11 | Two Romances for Oboe and Piano: II. | Eric Biddington | Ashleigh Mowbray, oboe; Alison Holden, piano | 2:45 |
| 12 | Sentimental Piece | Eric Biddington | Carolyn Scholes, violin; Maurice Till, piano | 2:30 |
| 13 | Canzonetta For Oboe and Piano | Eric Biddington | Gregory McMillan-Perry, oboe; John Pattinson, piano | 2:50 |
| 14 | Scherzetto | Eric Biddington | Julie Ann Link, bassoon | 3:04 |
| 15 | Peace for Julie | Eric Biddington | Ashleigh Mowbray, oboe | 1:39 |
| 16 | Trio for Violin, Viola, Violoncello: I. | Eric Biddington | Laura Barton, violin; Sharon Baylis, viola; Paul Lee, cello | 3:48 |
| 17 | Trio for Violin, Viola, Violoncello: II. | Eric Biddington | Laura Barton, violin; Sharon Baylis, viola; Paul Lee, cello | 4:07 |
| 18 | Trio for Violin, Viola, Violoncello: III. | Eric Biddington | Laura Barton, violin; Sharon Baylis, viola; Paul Lee, cello | 3:26 |
| 19 | Two Pieces for Bassoon and Piano: I. | Eric Biddington | Julie Ann Link, bassoon; Alison Holden, piano | 4:28 |
| 20 | Two Pieces for Bassoon and Piano: II. | Eric Biddington | Julie Ann Link, bassoon; Alison Holden, piano | 4:11 |
Tracks 1, 2, 19, 20
Recorded October 12th, 2020 at The Piano – The Music Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand
Originally appeared on self released album Music to Exit With
Recording, Editing & Mastering Mike Clayton
Tracks 3-11, 14-18
Recorded on July 8th, 2021 at Oxford Terrace Baptist Church in Christchurch, New Zealand
Recording Session Engineer Ian McAllister
Editing & Mastering John Neill
Tracks 12 & 13
Recorded in 1997 at the Chapel, The Music Centre of Christchurch, New Zealand
Originally appeared on self released album Music for Friends
Recording, Editing & Mastering Mike Clayton
Cover Painting “No son of mine goes to university” Trevor Moffitt
Executive Producer Bob Lord
Executive A&R Sam Renshaw
A&R Director Brandon MacNeil
A&R Danielle Lewis
VP of Production Jan Košulič
Audio Director Lucas Paquette
VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming, Morgan Hauber
Publicity Patrick Niland, Aidan Curran
Content Manager Sara Warner
Artist Information
Eric Biddington
Eric Biddington was born in Timaru, New Zealand in 1953, and received his schooling in Timaru and Christchurch. Upon leaving school, he began part-time work as a laborer and studied at the University of Canterbury, although this was interrupted by illness in 1974. In 1979 he returned to study, laboring work, and musical composition and graduated with degrees in music, arts, and science. Despite suffering from schizophrenia and depression since his teenage years, Biddington has become a prolific and widely performed composer.
Notes
Last-Notes_Notes-1
Eric Biddington and Elizabeth Ann Biddington | photo: Julie Ann Link
Last-Notes_Notes-2
Eric Biddington and Elizabeth Ann Biddington | photo: Julie Ann Link
I am revisiting these older pieces because they were written 20-30 years ago and I thought it might be nice to have them on this release, which will potentially be my last.
Tracks 1 & 2 are previously issued on Music to Exit With, 12 & 13 were previously issued on Music for Friends, recorded in 1997. Four Preludes was originally recorded by pianist Maurice Till on The Chamber Music of Eric Biddington in 1996 at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, recorded and mastered by Mike Clayton. LAST NOTES features a new recording of the piece by Alison Holden. Track 14 is also featured on Music to be Fleeced To. Track 15, Peace for Julie, is also featured on my Navona Records release WINDPOWER but for soprano saxophone performed by Debbie Rawson.
“Dedicated, with all my love, to my dear wife Elizabeth Ann Biddington (1943-2020).”
— Eric Biddington
