The Sparrow and the Mead Hall

... remarkable music-making of high quality ... the fecundity of this composer’s imagination is on display in a technical display that shows no breaks, no cracks in development.

Michael Kieran Harvey’s music is uncompromising in its integrity and for that we should all be most thankful. The thing about Michael Kieran Harvey’s compositions is that he has this vast virtuosic inhabitancy upon which to draw. He also possesses an astute mind which directs him in his composing towards structural devices that define, shape and ground his works. But more and more, for this listener at least, he allows himself to ‘let go’ such that there is this wondrous balance between the mind’s sound configurations, his virtuosic skill, and this outpouring of feeling states. Thus, one aspect of his musicianship is never allowed to overwhelm another, indeed they are fertile compatriots. ... if there is a theme across the album, it is this questioning of what we can accept in life and what we cannot, and how we respond. We ground ourselves in all manner of ways, some by seeking out patterns, and repeating occurrences which do make sense. And ultimately, we express our most inner beings musically, for our own sanity, but also to inform and advocate for what we can accept. In this manner, Harvey’s music is uncompromising in its integrity and for that we should all be most thankful.

Harvey has taken up the gauntlet thrown down by Zappa, added his own massive creativity and offers a challenge to listeners about what they can expect from an album of piano music, or even from a series of compositions by a modern composer. This stunningly gifted Australian pianist and composer has a very clear background idea that motivates his compositions, his technique, his chord progressions, his compositional textures, his melodic outlines and his extra-musical performance practice. These works are composed and (mostly) performed by Michael Kieran Harvey. As always, this disc includes extensive and interesting notes on each piece and performance.