Lock & Key Vol II: New Chamber Works
Navona, 2021
8/10
Listen to Lock & Key Vol II: New Chamber Works
A compilation of 5 new chamber works from the minds of Kenneth A. Kuhn, Carol Barnett, Herbert A. Deutsch, Philippe Kocher and Sarah Wallin-Huff, this installment of the Lock & Key series again showcases divine talent in an inviting atmosphere of chamber sounds.
Kuhn’s “Two Nostalgic Melodies” starts the listen with cascading keys from Yoko Hagino while Amy Advocat’s clarinet adds much to flowing beauty, and “Shaker Suite: Canterbury” follows with plenty of warm, playful instrumentation between flute, oboe, french horn, clarinet and bassoon as plenty of dreaminess exists in the Barnett composition.
The middle track, Deutsch’s “Iceland Invention”, has the woodwinds dancing around the soulful French horn with elegance, while “Projektionen II” is an extremely adventurous track where the woodwinds take focus. “The Oracle” exits the listen with moody strings from Pola Benke’s cello and Agnes Schwartz’s violin, as Masako Klassen’s piano accents the cautious climate well.
A listen where each track shines in its own light while touching on the universal themes of the human experience, not a moment here is squandered as the players illuminate the grand vision of the composers with incredible precision.
Travels well with: The Lowell Chamber Orchestra- The Suite; John Robertson- Symphonies No. 4 & 5