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Three Perspectives
Ned Rorem composer
Dan Locklair composer
Jennifer Higdon composer
Pangaea Chamber Players
The piano trio Pangaea Chamber Players explores the fickle nexus between music and visual art in their Navona release THREE PERSPECTIVES. While the ensemble's flute-cello-piano setup might evoke ideas of Baroque music, there are no such reminiscences to be found. Instead, the young trio presents three new compositions by contemporary composers. Although recent works, all pieces on THREE PERSPECTIVES are tonal – perhaps owing to their descriptive, illustrative purpose. The album's title, after all, hints at the connections between musical and visual artistic expressions: music inspired by art, music inspired by artists, and art inspired by music.
There's the beautiful cycle Reynolda Reflections by Dan Locklair, motivated by five artworks housed in the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Jennifer Higdon's American Canvas, inspired by three American visual artists like Jackson Pollock, and Ned Rorem's Trio which reverses the process: several visual representations of this piece were drawn by artists during performances and rehearsals – one of them can be admired on the album's cover.
It is a challenging project, to be sure; but the Pangaea Chamber Players are more than up to the task. With great clarity, care and precision, these new compositions are brought to life not only as black-and-white sketches, but as colorful, refined masterpieces, truly representative of the visual artworks to which they are so intimately wedded.
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"No question about it, this is a surprisingly creative and interesting CD"
Track Listing & Credits
| # | Title | Composer | Performer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Trio for Flute, Cello & Piano: I. Largo misterioso - Allegro | Ned Rorem | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 5:08 |
| 02 | Trio for Flute, Cello & Piano: II. Largo | Ned Rorem | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 3:33 |
| 03 | Trio for Flute, Cello & Piano: III. Andante | Ned Rorem | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 3:05 |
| 04 | Trio for Flute, Cello & Piano: IV. Allegro molto | Ned Rorem | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 4:31 |
| 05 | Reynolda Reflections: I. Fantasy in the Woods | Dan Locklair | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 6:57 |
| 06 | Reynolda Reflections: II. Grounded in Machines | Dan Locklair | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 3:24 |
| 07 | Reynolda Reflections: III. Arias to a Flower | Dan Locklair | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 5:49 |
| 08 | Reynolda Reflections: IV. Dances Before the Barn | Dan Locklair | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 3:58 |
| 09 | Reynolda Reflections: V. Songs to the Wind | Dan Locklair | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 4:10 |
| 10 | American Canvas: I. O'Keeffe | Jennifer Higdon | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 6:00 |
| 11 | American Canvas: II. Pollock | Jennifer Higdon | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 4:32 |
| 12 | American Canvas: III. Wyeth | Jennifer Higdon | Virginia Broffitt Kunzer, flute; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; Jeffrey Brown, piano | 4:05 |
Recorded January 8, 10, and May 6 - 7, 2018 at Cornerstone Recording Company in Oklahoma City OK
Recording Session Producer & Engineer Ken Sarkey
Artist Photography Lauren Clark
Cover artwork by Hallie Sands
Executive Producer Bob Lord
Executive A&R Sam Renshaw
A&R Director Brandon MacNeil
A&R Danielle Lewis
VP, Audio Production Jeff LeRoy
Audio Director Lucas Paquette
Mastering Shaun Michaud
VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming
Publicity Patrick Niland, Sara Warner
Artist Information
Pangaea Chamber Players
Formed in 2012, the Pangaea Chamber Players strives to expand the boundaries of traditional chamber music through innovative programming and community involvement. Comprised of flute, cello, and piano, the ensemble performs both traditional and contemporary works. Most recently, they have recorded a CD, Three Perspectives, which will be released with Parma Records.
Notes
THREE PERSPECTIVES explores three distinct connections between music and visual art: music inspired by art, music inspired by artists, and art inspired by music.
North Carolina composer Dan Locklair found his inspiration for Reynolda Reflections in five specific paintings, all housed in the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Jennifer Higdon’s American Canvas was inspired by three American visual artists and their body of work (Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, and Andrew Wyeth). The third perspective is brought together in Ned Rorem’s Trio. Throughout a series of rehearsals and concerts, Pangaea collaborated with artists who drew visual representations of the piece. The art that became the basis for the album cover was created during a concert at Auburn University and reflects the artist’s perspective on the musical colors and characters portrayed in Rorem’s Trio. This project was supported in part by the Oklahoma State University HAD Grant.
TO READ MORE ABOUT THE PIECES, VISIT THESE LINKS:
Jennifer Higdon’s interview about American Canvas
Dan Locklair’s program notes for Reynolda Reflections
