Remember
Neuma, 2023
9/10
As assembly of 8 very eclectic pieces from the esteemed composer Jeremy Beck, each track here carries an artistic quality that unfolds with emphasis on tonality, structure and dramatic moments.
“Four Preludes” opens the listen with Jessica Litwiniec Dorman’s warm keys making for a very flexible 4 chapters that embrace both firm and gentle techniques, and “Invitation To Love” follows with an a cappella performance of soaring, harmonic voices from the SSA outfit.
Further along, “Variations” welcomes Tsevtan Andreev’s guitar, Stefaniya Yankova’s viola, Boris Radilov’s cello and violins from Jordan Dimitrov and Dora Dimitraova that make for very melodic and dreamy song craft, while “November Dances” enlists flute from Petyo Kolev and viola courtesy of Viktor Mitzev that complement Denitza Dimitrova’s elegant harp via the rich textures.
Arriving near the end, “Elegy” is populated by the Sofia Session Orchestra and Rumen Tsanov’s piano, which cultivates both tense and gentle bouts of chamber ideas, and “String Quartet No. 6” exits with The Frosch String Quartet’s dynamic and precise string interaction contributing to waves of beauty and emotion.
A body of work that embraces classical, chamber, choral and symphonic qualities, Beck’s vision is nothing if not diverse, and these meticulous pieces are captivating from beginning to end.
Travels well with: Jon Christopher Nelson- The Persistence Of Time And Memory; Evan Ware- The Quietest Of Whispers