Dashing: Sounds Of The Season Vol. 4
Navona, 2023
9/10
Listen to Dashing: Sounds Of The Season Vol. 4
A collection of solo and ensemble pieces that will remind us of much colder holidays, the Dashing series again brings us familiar and new tracks that emits much joy.
The festivities start with Daniel Powers’ “Overture - Rejoice and Be Merry”, where the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra’s lively strings flow with warmth and energy that’s quite cheerful, and “Watchman Tell Us Of The Night”, by James Shrader, follows with the Brno Contemporary Orchestra’s cautious interaction that carries a rare intimacy amid some playful percussion.
In the middle, the solo pieces of “Holiday Works” allows Gerry Bryant’s meticulous piano to captivate us across rare selections as well as the favorite, “Jingle Bells”, while Kim Diehnelt’s “Bell Carol Fantasy” recruits the Janáčkova Filharmonie Ostrava for a particularly moving and pensive delivery of rich strings.
Arriving near the end, the many voices of The Kühn Choir of Prague populate the harmonic setting of “A Child This Day is Born”, and David Peoples’ “Variations on a Winter Theme II” finishes with Emily Howard’s violin mesmerizing us with its specific mood and emotion.
A record that can be enjoyed any time of the year, the diversity and range of tonality present is very much appreciated.
Travels well with: Dashing Vol. 2; Dashing Vol. 3