George Benjamin

Sudden Time

... perhaps the most impressive, motivated handling of orchestral forces in an output which has always demonstrated an extraordinary control of large forms. And the most telling of its time-tricks is that it compacts such a fecundity of ideas into a duration that, you are astonished to discover, barely exceeds 15 minutes. It feels twice as long; and I don't say that as criticism. Merely, as a tribute to the substance, depth and technical accomplishment of an outstanding score. The Independent on Sunday (Michael White), 25 July 1993
Instrumentation: 4(all=picc+afl).2(=garklein recorder).ca.2(I=Bb+A).bcl.2.cbsn - 4441 - timp - perc(5): 4 sets sleigh bells/9 tpl.bl/2 whip/2 vib(+db bow)/2 susp.cym/5 tamb/10 mini-tabla/2 glsp/4 guiro/5 bongo/16 crot/3 tom-t/2 BD/2 rototom - pno - 2 harp - strings (14.12.10.8.6)