Digital Memory And The Archive
New Focus, 2023
8/10
Listen to Digital Memory And The Archive
The esteemed composer Richard Beaudoin brings his inimitable vision to solo and duo pieces here, where a contemporary classical approach makes the most of the 7 well thought out pieces.
“Reproducció” (after Casals/Bach)” starts the listen with Neil Heyde’s graceful, stirring cello prowess that spends 6 minutes mesmerizing us with its fluid bowing, and “Unikat (after Argerich/Chopin)” follows with the cello emitting left hand chords and focusing on the length of variable arpeggios with much grace.
Further along, “Nachzeichnen/Tracing (after Gould/Schoenberg)” is performed entirely without a bow, and is as expressive as it is colorful, while “You Know I’m Yours (after Monk)” takes inspiration from Thelonius Monk and is bright, rhythmic and adventurous.
The final 2 tracks are among the best, where “Les deux lauriers (after Teyte/Cortot/Debussy)” welcomes Rohan de Saram on cello, which interacts with Heyde’s cello in a poetic, emotive fashion, and “La chevelure”, from Debussy’s Trois Chansons de Bilitis, places Alfred Cortot on piano and showcases Maggie Teyte’s stunning soprano for the raw, powerful finish.
A very rich and creative endeavor that pays close attention to timing and uses information from the initial recordings that directly affects the new compositions, Beaudoin turns interpretation into a refined science here.
Travels well with: Scott L. Miller- Coincident; Guy Barash- Killdeer