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Pinnacle
Daniel Perttu composer
Hans Bakker composer
Steven Block composer
Peter Greve composer
Kevin M. Walczyk composer
Navona Records presents PINNACLE, a compilation of contemporary chamber works by composers Hans Bakker, Steven Block, Peter Greve, Daniel Perttu, and Kevin M. Walczyk that highlight the melodic, emotive, and dramatic styles offered by some of today’s chamber music.
Hans Bakker offers three works: Brenne for piano and violin introduces a musical mantra in a repeated hymn-like melody, while Leys III for flute, violin and guitar also uses a short hymn-like melody yet in a different setting and style than the former work. Hortus Conclusus, meaning “enclosed garden,” is, as the composer states, a “metaphor for the innermost self of every human being” in which a key to the enclosure is hidden inside. Steven Block’s 5 Plainchants for Clarinet delivers meditative pieces that are freely derived from Byzantine Rite tradition of the late 19th century, allowing the passages to flow in a manner that emulates the cantorial practice in which chanting imitates speech and song rhythms.
Peter Greve’s Trio for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano is written in memoriam of a friend and illustrates the different aspects of her outgoing personality, celebrating her love for nature, philosophy, and altruism. Daniel Perttu’s work The Storr of Trotternish is a musical reaction inspired by the dramatic scenery of the rocky peaks on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. A Goodbye Too Soon by Kevin M. Walczyk takes its name and inspiration from a poem written by Dr. Paul Baxter that laments the death of a friend, and whose formal structure, expression, and empathetic meaning guides the composer’s iteration.
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Artist Information
Daniel Perttu
“Music has always been a kind of magic for me, a portal to other realms. When I was young, I was inspired by fantasy novels such as The Lord of the Rings, and I’m still drawn to myths and legends. I’ve written works on themes ranging from the sorcery of Merlin to the Callanish Stone Circle and the Torngat Mountains. My aim is to write music that invites audiences into other worlds, so they can re-discover their own sense of wonder." –Daniel Perttu
Hans Bakker
After he finished his studies piano, church organ, and choral conducting at the Dutch Institute for Church Music in Utrecht, Hans Bakker (b. 1945) worked as a teacher at two music schools in the Netherlands. He also conducted two choirs and was active in the improvisational music scene. His career in music was followed by the study of Sanskrit. After obtaining his master's degree at the University of Amsterdam, he returned to music, becoming completely occupied by teaching at Globe Center for Art and Culture in the city of Hilversum.
Steven Block
Steven D. Block was born in New York City on November 5, 1952. He is currently Dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley after having served as Chair of the Department of Music at the University of New Mexico for 17 years.
Peter Greve
Peter Greve (1931-2021) was born in The Hague (Netherlands). He received musical training in The Hague from Jean Antonietti and Léon Orthel (piano), Theo Laanen (trumpet), Dr. Marcus van Crevel (music theory), and later from Willem Frederik Bon (Amsterdam), Myers Foggin (United Kingdom) and Terence Lovett (United Kingdom), in orchestral conducting. During this time, he also studied at the State University of Leiden (Netherlands), where he obtained M.Sc. (1957) and Ph.D. (1959) degrees in chemistry.
Kevin M. Walczyk
Portland OR native Kevin M. Walczyk received the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of North Texas where he received the Hexter Prize for outstanding graduate student and served as arranger for the renowned University of North Texas One O'clock Lab Band. Walczyk's works have been commissioned and/or recorded by organizations that include the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, Kiev Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Ukraine National Symphony, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Portland Youth Philharmonic, and consortium-commissioning projects comprising over 60 university and conservatory wind ensembles.
Nancy Zipay DeSalvo
Dr. Nancy Zipay DeSalvo performs extensively as a soloist, a professional accompanying pianist (specializing in saxophone and string repertoire), and a chamber music collaborator. She has been a guest soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed with various orchestras throughout the United States. She is an Associate Professor at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania where she is Head of the Piano Area.
Vít Muzík
Czech violinist and producer Vít Muzík (b. 1972) is one of the most multifaceted musicians working on the contemporary classical music scene. His abilities both as a performer on the concert stage and in the recording booth have led to appearances on more than 60 recordings in the Navona and Ravello catalogs, making him one of PARMA Recordings' most frequent collaborators.
