Sound, Echo, And Silence
Albany, 2024
9/10
Listen to Sound, Echo, And Silence
The sophomore record of orchestral works by Narong Prangcharoen that has appeared on the Albany label, the 3 involved pieces here are fleshed out by the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra and under Alfonso Scarano’s conducting.
“Beyond Land And Ocean” occupies the first 22+ minutes of the listen with strong attention to mood, where dreamy winds, agile strings and booming percussion that flows from fluid moments to dense bouts of meticulous interaction.
The middle track belongs to the intense and diverse “Raging Fire”, where animated strings and thundering drums find themselves in daring and exciting territories, while the title track exits with a cinematic quality that’s animated and textured with a firm presence that radiates tremendous color.
Considered one of Asia’s leading composers, Prangcharoen’s work here revolves around experiences in Orange County, the relationship between humans and fire and the relationship between sound, echo, and silence, and it sure does make for a captivating, unpredictable listen.
Travels well with: Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra- Harmony In Black; Kyra Xuerong Zhao- Vibrant