The Quietest Of Whispers
Neuma, 2023
8/10
Listen to The Quietest Of Whispers
A two cycle body of work that examines some of life’s hardest obstacles, Evan Ware’s deeply rooted trauma comes to light via these symphonies that welcome the artists Jane Hirshfield and Amy Petrongelli.
The title track opens the listen, and presents minimals versus abrupt instrumentation that’s sometimes frantic, other times embracing, as Ware straddles the line between fractured and emotive via the rich orchestral and chamber delivery.
The back half belongs to the 6 movements of “Symphony No. 2”, where Petrongelli’s soaring soprano and texts by Hirshfield unfold alongside the rich and introspective musicianship that’s quite stirring.
Ware is a childhood sexual assault survivor who also more recently had a cancer scare, and those experiences fueled these vulnerable, dynamic and focused pieces that provide a platform for the AEPEX Contemporary Performance and Kevin Fitzgerald’s conducting skills
Travels well with: Edmund Campion- Quadrivium; Roger Reynolds- For A Reason