The Shape Of Strings
Henri Elkan, 2022
9/10
Listen to The Shape Of Strings
The composer, arranger and scholar Wayne Alpern is always unpredictable, and this time he’s aligned with the String Orchestra of New York City for 3 pieces the include 3 movements each.
“Reinvention 1” opens the listen with dancing, playful and fascinating string interaction, and “Reinventions 2” follows with a calmer approach of stirring, eloquent sounds that flows with much grace.
The middle tracks belong to “Seranade 1” and “Seranade 2”, where the former juggles tension and beauty with a cinematic appeal that could soundtrack a chase scene, while the latter is quite poetic, reflective and says much without words in its sublime delivery.
Close to the end, “Divertimento 1” leads with a dreamy, rich delivery that segues into a swifter, uplifting affair, and “Divertimento 3” exits with a busy but meticulous execution of very animated and diverse string manipulation.
The players on hand include the violinists Monica Bauchwitz, Lauren Cauley-Kalal, Regi Papa, Sarah Whitney, Arther Moeller, and Kristi Helberg. Miranda Sielaff and Margaret Dyer hold down viola, Jing Li and Caleb van der Swaagh play cello and Logan Coale contributes bass. Together, they illuminate Alpern’s vision with a wealth of talent that puts forth a very classical spin that also touches on jazz, rock, pop and orchestral ideas, and results in yet another must hear album in Alpern’s catalog.
Travels well with: Wayne Alpern- Secular Rituals; Wayne Alpern- Frankenstein