Re/String

Guitarists Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan (CC Duo) join forces with Montreal’s collectif9 for “Re/String,” a dynamic album of world-premiere compositions for two guitars and strings. This collaboration features six new works by Canadian composers Amy Brandon, Kelly-Marie Murphy, Patrick Roux, Bekah Simms, and Harry Stafylakis, alongside British composer Stephen Goss.  This album demonstrates CC Duo and collectif9’s commitment to championing living composers’ work through commissioning and recording.

This album showcases some of today’s bold creativity and most exciting voices in contemporary composition. Re/String begins with Goss’ “Landscape and Memory,” a meditation on humanity’s connection to nature, conjuring rivers, forests, and mountains. Murphy’s “The Confectioner’s Handbook” is a playful take on sugar boiling, drawing parallels to the art of music-making. Simms’ “Half-thorn Blooms” was born from a sense of play and exploration, weaving “thorny” microtonal harmonies into a rich sonic landscape. Roux’s “Après l’exode” honours the emotional resilience of refugees, reflecting on themes of nostalgia, loss, and hope. Brandon’s “Cloud Path” explores the ethereal qualities of the guitar’s timbre, blending delicate multiphonics, interlocking melodies, and tightly voiced arpeggios. The album closes with Stafylakis’ “To Wake and Find the World Still Burning,” a powerful, heavy metal-inspired work evoked by the composer’s experiences during the pandemic, influenced by the stark energy and driving rhythms of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.