Some rich, original and yet accessible sounds are coming out of St. Paul’s Innova Records. Creative but not cacophonic, these two albums reveal today’s most thoughtful composers.
The chamber music of Ilari Kaila is approached and interpreted in a series of different settings on The Bells Bow Down. Pianist Adrienne Kim teams with the Aizuri Wuartet for soft strings and reflection leading to a dramatic climax on the title pieces, while without Kim, the strings give an old world march with folk shadows on the thoughtful “Jouhet” and are wistful as they sweep through “Wisteria”. Kim goes solo on five flowing pieces in “Taonta’ that range from Debussy-esque to spacious Chopin, while she duets with cellist Karen Ouzounian on the romantically flowing and urgent “Hum and Drum”. All accessible and all alluring.
The pen of Jeremy Beck is delivered in a wide variety of milieu,ranging from Orchestra to solo strings on this collection of melodic modernism. Rich Coplandish moods are elaborated on “Concerto 2006 For Two Cellos and String Orchestra” as well as the oboe-led “Three Pieces For Orchestra 2016.” Derek Ratzenboeck’s violin teams with violas by Rebecca Barnes and Jennifer Shckleton for a furtive and festive “Adagio and Ellegro 1981”. More intimate is the sublime and intimate guitar by Toddy Steelye on “Two Pieces For Guitar 1982” and the yearning “Prelude and Toccata 2011” by the cellist Paul York. Lieders by tenor Jeffrey Brich and pianist Korey Barrett produce the parlor settings of “Three Songs 1986” and best of all is the liturgical and gorgeous voices by the a cappella First Recordings Project on the ethereal “Dream and Echoes 1998”. Rich rewards abound