Richard Howarth

The music on this CD ( Mystic thoughts ) represents a new original voice. It has
its own trade mark style, is approachable and demands to be listened to. Most of the tracks offer a catchy rhythmic peg on which to hang the tunes, some of which are extensive, others fragmentary. There are moments, mostly fleeting, of the sumptuous harmonies from the Western tradition appearing as if from nowhere out of the predominately Eastern sounds of the plucked cello and decorated upper lines.

These are short ‘sound bites’ which explore the capabilities of the string quartet (extremely well played) and now I look forward to hearing the bigger, more expansive works for orchestra from this innovative composer

Director of the Manchester Sinfonia and violinist Richard Howarth