Benjamin, George : Olicantus

Olicantus is a small but perfectly formed miniature written in 2002 as a surprise 50th birthday gift to Benjamin’s friend and fellow composer-conductor Oliver Knussen. Scored for a mellow group of 15 players, which foregrounds a cello and pair of melancholy bass clarinets, this tender four-minute tribute already enjoys three commercial recordings – a testament to its exquisite yet unassuming beauty.