Mythological Fragments
New Focus, 2025
9/10
Listen to Mythological Fragments
The esteemed composer Steven Ricks brings us extended works for soprano, piano and electronics, plus a much larger setting, where the two pieces are delivered with much attention to detail.
The first half of the listen belongs to “Medusa In Fragments”, as Keith Kirchoff’s fascinating keys and Jennifer Welch-Babidge’s soaring soprano meet at a very unpredictable intersection of tense bouts versus eloquent storytelling. The presence of ominous electronics and dramatic vocals are quite striking, and only enhance the atypical vision.
“Baucis And Phillemon” resides on the back half. It enlists plenty of noisemakers and vocals from Madison Leonard and Shea Owens, as twinkling harp, playful flute, and well timed percussion suit the strategic strings, charming harmonics and exploratory layering across the chamber opera.
An album of contrasts, Ricks’ approach is bold, diverse and intriguing, where samples, electronics and manipulation are used like a refined science.
Travels well with: Leilehua Lanzilotti/David Kaplan- Scott Wollschleger: Lost Anthems; Daniel Strong Godfrey- Toward Light