Robert Saxton – Scenes from the Epic of Gilgamesh, The Resurrection of the Soldiers (ESO. Nimbus Alliance)

“ ‘What is the symphony today?’ as put forward by conductor Kenneth Woods in the accompanying notes to this, the fifth edition of the English Symphony Orchestra’s 21st Century Symphony Project, is a compelling conversation starter and is something for listeners to contemplate as they approach these two works by Robert Saxton. Scenes from the Epic of Gilgamesh, commissioned by the English Symphony and Woods for this project, is a programmatic work. By layout and instrumentation, it certainly fits the bill as a symphony. The Prologue jumps right into the intensity that is a foundation of Saxton’s musical language with repeated and Motorik phrasing and an underlying flurry from the strings supporting melodies passed through the orchestra’s sections. As Saxton has turned to more tonality in his works, he uses dissonance to build and release tension, as can be heard throughout the fourth movement, “Lament on the Death of Enkidu,” following the clarion horn call-opening. The melody is then passed through a number of soloists as each continues to repeat the lament. The second work on this album, the symphonic poem The Resurrection of the Soldiers, was also co-commissioned by the English Symphony and is performed by the English String Orchestra (the string sections only of the larger orchestra). It is inspired by a Stanley Spencer painting of the same name that depicts soldiers from World War I emerging from their graves on the biblical last day. Those unfamiliar with the artwork are in luck since it is re-created as the album’s cover art. Fans of orchestral music will be impressed by this movingly powerful and emotionally charged symphonic poem. Either work will serve as a good introduction to Saxton’s music, and it’s another strong outing in this series.” AllMusic

“A superbly played album featuring two major works by this month’s featured Contemporary Composer, Robert Saxton” Gramophone Editor’s Choice, August 2024

Hard on the heels of the release of Kenneth Woods and the English Symphony Orchestra’s fifth instalment (devoted to Steve Elcock – 7/24) in their terrific ‘21st Century Symphony Project’ series comes the sixth, devoted to Robert Saxton. Once more it is full of captivating music-making, two remarkable and compelling compositions, magnificently played, but it may also be – as we move past the halfway point of the project – the most challenging issue thus far… The challenge arises from the fact that neither work is titled ‘symphony’. The Resurrection of the Soldiers (2016) is a searing, intense work for string orchestra, one that should by rights take its place among the finest English works for string orchestra. It falls into one continuous span, dividing naturally into three large paragraphs across a not-quite-quarter-hour timespan, and was written for the English Symphony Orchestra and George Vass (to whom it is dedicated) for the Presteigne Festival. Inspired by Stanley Spencer’s series of paintings for the Sandham Memorial Chapel, The Resurrection of the Soldiers is more tone poem, perhaps, but it has the gravitas of a one-movement symphony, not least through its central fugue and consolatory conclusion… The larger piece, the five-movement Scenes from The Epic of Gilgamesh (2022) is another matter. This is the composition written for Woods and prompts the question: ‘What is a symphony?’ At one level, this is a closely argued suite derived from the great Mesopotamian text, around which Saxton had long wanted to compose a work. The musical language is broadly tonal and appealingly descriptive, its succession of vigorous sections and threnodies, and a finale worthy of Tippett at his best, echoing the trials of King Gilgamesh with his friend Enkidu. It is a haunting work, proving (were it needed) that musical impact or relevance need not come from extremes of sonority, harmony or style. The ESO respond with a fabulous interpretation, informed by immaculate ensemble and intonation (with some superb solo and duo playing along the way), one that stayed on loop in my player. Is it a symphony? In its scope, expressive élan and integration, I would say yes. Yet another thoroughly gripping, intriguing album, strongly recommended, as are its five predecessors. Guy Rickards, Gramophone August 2024

“The English Symphony Orchestra and Kenneth Woods continue their 21st Symphony Project with this major work from Robert Saxton, here coupled with one of his earlier pieces in what is a welcome and valuable addition to the discographies of composer, conductor and orchestra.” Richard Whitehouse, On Records [read complete review]

“Robert Saxton, who has had such important mentors as Britten and Berio, Elisabeth Lutyens and Robin Holloway, is a composer with a splendid career and author of a clearly defined body of work. The two works included in this album – admirably recorded – present Saxton’s creative side, in which he explores various aspects of the transcendent: Scenes from “The Epic of Gilgamesh” and The Resurrection of the Soldiers.
Gilgamesh embarked on a long and dangerous journey to discover the secret of eternal life. It is well known that The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest literary text in the cultural history of the Middle East and the West, predating the Hebrew Bible. The epic tells the story of King Gilgamesh —part divine, part human—, who may have lived around 2800 BC.
This text, possibly one of the most important in the history of humanity, has interested the English composer Robert Saxton, who used it to compose his piece. The performance was given by the English Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kenneth Woods; premiered Scenes from “The Epic of Gilgamesh” in Oxford in March 2023. The score, often tonal, is delicate, with intimate melodies coloured by the instrumental subtlety of the magnificent English Symphony Orchestra. Kenneth Woods treasures Saxton’s harmonic richness and makes his music flow with exceptional clarity.
The Resurrection of the Soldiers, a work co-commissioned by George Vass for the 2016 Presteigne Festival and the English Symphony Orchestra with Kenneth Woods, is a work for chamber orchestra based on Stanley Spencer’s visionary series of Sandham Chapel paintings. These pieces of art were the result of Spencer’s experiences in the British army during World War I and depict soldiers coming out of their graves on their last day. The distressing climate created by Saxton is admirable, a melodic line that permeates the entire texture heterophonically and leads to the final triad of E major.
Kenneth Woods, with the English String Orchestra, conducts an impeccable version of this piece of great intensity and emotional depth. We can say without hesitation that Woods is an undisputed reference as an orchestral conductor in the English music scene. He carried out a brilliant task of recovering English composers with great communicative power.” Carme Miró, Sonogram magazine