Kiss On Wood
Sono Luminus, 2025
9/10
The viola wizard Rachel Yonan is joined by Kwan Yi’s superb piano playing for these 4 selections from Arvo Pärt, Sir James MacMillan and Robert Schumann that explores the metaphor of light and darkness.
Pärt’s “Fratres” gets the listen off to a rich and meticulous start, where Yonan’s intricate strings are met with dense keys that balance intimacy and exploration, and the title track follows with careful string manipulation amid the firm keys that populate the MacMillan piece.
Schumann’s contributions arrive late, where the 4 segments of “Märchenbilder, Op. 113” emit bright melodies and colorful interaction between the piano and viola, while Pärt returns for the final track, as “Spiegel im Spiegel” graces us with intimacy and a dreaminess that embraces a stirring beauty of gorgeous, timeless viola and twinkling keys.
An eloquent effort that touches on minimalism, contrasting positions and bouts of spiritual ideas, Yonan recruits emotional moments, melancholy and colorful dynamics to a diverse and memorable record.
Travels well with: Sean Hickey- Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind; Gerald Cohen- Steal For A Pencil For Me