Source Ground
Navona, 2022
8/10
The esteemed composer Hans Bakker returns with his sophomore effort on the Navona label, where solo piano, organ filled pieces and orchestral ensembles populate the diverse and powerful listen.
“Fanfare Ananke for orchestra” opens the listen with the London Symphony Orchestra and Miran Vaupotić’s conducting making for a flowing, intricate and cinematic demeanor, and “Two Pieces for piano” follows with Rangel Silaev’s lone piano emitting a very agile and expressive delivery of precise key acrobatics.
The keys again are present later on in “Three Pieces for organ”, where Frans Jan Wijma’s organ prowess is calm, reflective and sometimes haunting, while Maarten Wilmink takes over on organ for the dense, eerie album highlight that is “Toccata For Organ”.
Near the end, Annette Scholten’s lame sonore (musical saw) makes an appearance for the very unique, mysterious “Dare Voce”, and “Cantus for string orchestra” exits with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra and Vit Micka (conductor) offering their dynamic and meticulous skills.
A very compelling listen that spans bare and busy textures, the many players on hand sure do illuminate Bakker’s vision with incredible fluidity that allows each track to have its own distinct identity.
Travels well with: Dashing Vol. 3; Duo Sequenza- Yes… It’s Still A Thing!