Influential early album by acclaimed British composer Gavin Bryars.
Originally released in November 1981 on Les Disques du Crépuscule, Hommages was recorded in Leicester in February 1981 and produced by Wim Mertens. The album was conceived as a series of diverse homages to other composers, including Bill Evans (My First Homage), Ferruccio Busoni and Gustav Holst (The English Mail-Coach and The Vespertine Park) and Percy Grainger (Hi-Tremolo).
Featured musicians included Andrew Bilham, Ronald Reah, Andrew Renshaw, Nigel Shipway, Dave Smith, John White and Marie Wilson, as well as Bryars himself on piano and vibraphone. This the only album which documents the important period between Bryars' early experimental music and later works from Medea onwards, as well as his enthusiasm for small composer/performer ensembles.
This 63 minute digital remaster of Hommages includes two bonus tracks composed and recorded during the same period: Danse Dieppoise, and lengthy piano piece Out Of Zaleski's Gazebo. The booklet features extensive notes by Gavin Bryars on the origin and performance of all six pieces, and preserves the original album cover artwork by Marc Borgers.
