Mural
Stradivarius, 2024
8/10
The Puerto Rican native and New York City guitarist-composer Gabriel Vicéns brings his contemporary classical composition skills to this album of chamber music that explores 12-tone serialism, experimentalism, and minimalism via his creative vision.
The title track begins the listen with Raissa Fahlman’s expressive clarinet and Corinne Penner’s unpredictable keys alongside Joenne Dumitrascu’s playful violin for 11+ minutes of the tonally exciting piece.
Further into the listen, “El Matorral” rumbles with the agile keys being complemented by Roberta Michel’s rich flute prowess that helps make for a cinematic landscape, while “Una Superficie Sin Rostro” is a solo piano feature which showcases Penner’s bare and tense pianistic skills.
Deeper yet, “Ficción” is a woodwind affair, as the Nu Quintet mesh flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn with much mystery and texture that’s quite adventurous, and “La Esfera” exits with the cellist Julia Henderson and pianist Mikael Darmanie working together with gentle versus firm bouts of key and string manipulation.
A listen where each instrument sees equal attention, Vicéns’ use of melody, harmony, timbre and register won’t go unnoticed, as his idea of contemporary classical sounds unfolds with intrigue and innovation.
Travels well with: Mimi Fox Organ Trio- One For Wes; Andreas Varady- Andreas Varady