Quaestiones Et Responsa
Ravello, 2019
8/10
Listen to Quaestiones Et Responsa
A double album that celebrates her 30 years in America, the Boston resident Alla Elana Cohen brings us new works for chamber orchestra and chamber ensembles on this highly detailed listen.
“Partita” starts the listen with 6 movements that range from quivering strings to quirky vibraphone to orchestral elegance, and later on “Querying The Silence” recruits flutes, oboes, clarinets and keys into a dizzying, sometimes tense display of dynamic skill.
The 2nd disc is equally mesmerizing, and includes the 4 movements of “Prophecies”, where the ensemble finds a nice balance between playful and formal, and “Prophecies” shows up again near the end with a chamber orchestra, and follows a different route of sublime, cultured beauty.
“Inner Temple” exits the lengthy release with cello and keys in the least busy but no less impactful conclusion.
There’s much going on in these textured arrangements, and the packaging contains notes from Cohen to aid the listener in the journey. For fans of classical sounds, there’s something for everyone here, and it’s all delivered flawlessly.
Travels well with: Bill Whitley- Then Elephants Speak; Giya Kancheli- Mourned By The Wind