The Books Of Spells
Navona, 2024
8/10
The debut from the Merian Ensemble, the 8 different pieces from 8 different composers unfold with strong attention to detail.
The title track, by Clarice Assad, starts with Emily Brebach’s well placed oboe and Elisabeth Remy Johnson’s dreamy harp drawing us in immediately, and Jennifer Higdon’s “The Sound Of Light” follows with Christina Smith’s charming flute and Marci Gurnow’s playful bass clarinet interacting with much warmth.
Deeper into the listen, “Atalanta”, by Nicole Chamberlain, has the ensemble working collaboratively for a rich and meticulous chamber climate, while “A Boy And A Makeshift Toy” focuses on Johnson’s elegant harp and Jessica Oudin’s strategic viola for the mesmerizing landscape via Mary Kouyoumdjian’s vision.
Landing close to the end, Assad’s “Solais” spotlights Johnson’ harp prowess in a solo setting of tremendous intimacy, and “Just Another Climb”, by Kimberly R. Osberg, blends the winds and strings with beauty and adventurousness.
A recording of all world premiere recordings, the chamber dynamics of each track resonate grace and timelessness.
Travels well with: Alchymy Viols- Deep River; Matthew Burtner- Profiled From Atmospheres