The latest recording of Australian composer Brett Dean’s music on the BIS label contains three quite substantial pieces.  The first is a violin concerto in three movements; The Lost Art of Letter Writing which is played by Frank Peter Zimmermann with the Sydney Symphony conducted by Jonathan Nott.  The four movements are each inspired by a 19th century letter (the details can be found here).  Collectively they form a fairly conventional concerto structure; a fast movement, a slow movement, a sort of scherzo and a very fast, busy and insistent conclusion.  It’s complex, dense and chromatic music that sometimes builds tension much in the manner of Shostakovich though Dean’s way of resolving that tension is very different.  It’s a really rewarding piece. Continue reading →