Echoes

Orchestra of the Swan, Philip Sheppard

2023

Resist the temptation to ‘cherry pick’ and listen to his beautifully curated album from end to end. There are numerous ingenious juxtapositions on this clever mixtape concept album, not least David Le Page’s stunning orchestrations, and the superbly responsive playing of the Orchestra of the Swan. The album conjures up numerous sensations of colour and light thanks to the vivid recording. The style and ambition that places Frank Zappa next to Manuel de Falla, or Philip Glass between Delius and Finzi—let alone serve up Lou Reed’s “Venus in Furs” in such company—gives you a fair idea of the glorious genre-hopping that these musicians have made their own.

Prelude in B Minor, BWV 855a (Arr. for Violin and Orchestra by David Le Page and Alexander Siloti)

Philip Sheppard, Orchestra of the Swan, David Le Page

4:44

II. Spring I

David Le Page, Orchestra of the Swan, Philip Sheppard

2:44

Buffalo Jump

David Le Page, Philip Sheppard, Orchestra of the Swan

5:18

Peaches En Regalia (Arr. for Violin and Orchestra by Ali N. Askin)

Orchestra of the Swan, Philip Sheppard, Raphael Mizraki, Graham Instrall

3:49

Nana (Arr. for Drums, Bass Guitar and Orchestra by David Le Page)

Nick Stringfellow, Philip Sheppard, Sally Harrop, Orchestra of the Swan, Daniel De Fry

2:05

The Sea of Time and Space

Catherine Leech, Orchestra of the Swan, David Le Page, Philip Sheppard

3:20

V. Trance

Viv McLean, Orchestra of the Swan, Philip Sheppard, Simon Desbruslais

4:07

Venus In Furs (David Le Page Version)

Orchestra of the Swan, David Le Page, Philip Sheppard

5:14

Glory Box (Arr. for Violin and Orchestra by David Le Page)

Raphael Mizraki, Orchestra of the Swan, Clara Sanabras, David Le Page, Graham Instrall, Philip Sheppard

5:46

We Played Some Open Chords And Rejoiced, For The Earth Had Circled The Sun Yet Another Year (Arr. for Piano and Orchestra by David Le Page)

Viv McLean, Philip Sheppard, Orchestra of the Swan

7:02

Starburst

Orchestra of the Swan, Philip Sheppard

3:20

I. Lento, ma non troppo (Arr. for Orchestra by Eric Fenby)

Orchestra of the Swan, Philip Sheppard

1:58

VI. Mishima / Closing (Arr. for Orchestra by David Le Page)

Orchestra of the Swan, Philip Sheppard

3:38

V. The Salutation

Orchestra of the Swan, Philip Sheppard, Mark Le Brocq

4:27