Ink Traces
Navona, 2024
8/10
The violinist Julia Glenn and pianist Konstantinos Valianantos come together for these 10 pieces that explore Glenn’s 15-year journey with Chinese culture and interactions between Chinese language and music.
Chen Yi’s “Romance and Dance” begins the listen with a pair of fluid movements, where the playful keys and warm strings interact with an animated presence, and “Air”, by Yao Chen, follows with a solo violin delivery, as Glenn’s meticulous delivery is restrained and gripping.
Landing in the middle, “Ink Traces of Sigh” is another lone violin selection, where Glenn’s strings unfold with intimacy and elegance via Pan Kai’s vision, while Gao Weijie’s striking and low keys are met with the tense violin of “The Road”.
Landing close to the end, “Drum & Song” is a more upbeat moment that you could dance to thanks to the swift strings and lively piano that’s never short on melody in the Chen Gang album highlight, and Chen Yihan’s “EHOHE” exits with baroque violin and fixed media paired together for the atypical and cinematic qualities.
A highly creative effort that meshes poetry, dance, painting, calligraphy, and music, Ink Traces illustrates the unique connection between gesture and sound, often in an enlightening light.
Travels well with: Anthony Brandt- LiveWire And Meeting Of Minds; The Merian Ensemble- The Book Of Spells