Duo Concertante
Nancy Dahn, violin
Timothy Steeves, piano

Since forming in 1997, Duo Concertante has been acclaimed for performances characterized by brilliance, subtlety, passion, and stunning ensemble across Canada, the United States and abroad. Hailed for their "artistry, poetry, and impeccable technique" (La Scena Musicale), "exceptional warmth and intimacy" (Ottawa Citizen), violinist Nancy Dahn and pianist Timothy Steeves have been described as "superb musicians" (Wholenote), who "work together with uncanny perfection" (Waterloo Gazette). Their extraordinary teamwork and "powerfully-charged performances" (The Musical Opinion) set them apart from more conventional violin/piano collaborations, with critics observing: "One doesn't listen to a program of violin music here, but to real chamber music, as it should be" (La Scena Musicale) and "Brilliant, saucy and soulful . . . you hear splendid sweet nuances everywhere; Duo Concertante makes a powerful case for thinking of violin/piano sonatas as duo music, rather than as music for a pianist and a violinist." (San Francisco Classical Voice).

Duo Concertante's commitment to new music has inspired many of Canada's leading composers to write for them, including R. Murray Schafer, Chan Ka Nin, Kati Agócs, Kelly-Marie Murphy, Alice Ho, Omar Daniel, Clark Ross, Andrew MacDonald, David Scott, Brian Current, Linda Bouchard, and Jean Lesage.

Professors at Memorial University, Dahn and Steeves are also Artistic Directors of the Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival.

It Takes Two is their first CD on Marquis.

Learn more about this ensemble at their web site:
http://www.duoconcertante.com/home.html

Clifford Crawley
Clifford Crawley was born and educated in England. He holds degrees from the University of Durham and diplomas from the Royal College of Music and Trinity College, London. He also studied briefly with composers Lennox Berkeley and Humphrey Searle.

Affiliated with the Canadian League of Composers and the Canadian Music Centre, he has over eighty published compositions, including a number in festival and conservatory lists. His musical style has been described as "warmly human," "contemporary [but] accessible and eclectic" (Encyclopedia of Music in Canada 1992: 328). Eclecticism is consistent with his belief that "originality is not necessarily something new but often [the result of] looking at the familiar in a different way."

He is Professor Emeritus at Queen's University, having taught composition and music education there from 1973 to 1993. He has worked as a music consultant in Central America and Asia, and participated in many Composer / Artist in the Classroom programs. After ten years in Toronto, he now lives and enjoys an active musical life in St. John's, Newfoundland.