JAVS Fall 2005

Two Violas is a subsranrial work of considerable virruosiry with beauti ful melodic writing for both violas and a complexi ty of interweaving lines reminiscenr of Bartok's quarter. Proro cbu·ly has an affi ni ty for rhe viola in his work as evidenced by his Soundscapcs for Solo Viola recorded by Scott and reviewed in this publi cation las t year. Patrick Neher's Canons and Dances is a modal work with numerous stylistic refer ences ro past composers and eras. lt is a rhoroughly charming and idiomatic work and a great addition to the duo literature. The disc con cludes with Richard Lane's Four Duos, which display some wonder fully sonorous melodjc writing and nods to past styles. The T.'mgo movement is especially evocative. Slapin and Solomon play with pas sion, technical brilliance, and great amhori ty on this noteworthy adru tion to the recorded viola literature. T he duos recorded here explore not only the rich sonori ty created by two violas, bm also rheir virtuosic potenrial; Slapin and Solomon suc ceed on both accounts.

narely provide little insight into Kancheli or rhc works on the disc bur arc a highly poetical riff on 20th century music in general. The three pieces recorded here for rhe first rime date from the middl e 1990's and include stel lar perform ances by the all involved. Kanchcl i's Piano Quartet ln Cisresso rempo(l 997) features the Bridge Ensemble, whjch includes AVS president Helen Callus. The quartet is almost entirely in a very slowly tempo with suspended harmonies and floating, simple, bu t ultimately haunting melodic lines. T he work projects a tender, wistful, melancholy inrerspersed by very brief moments of intense pain. The Bridge Ensemble plays with remarkable sensitivity and beauty of sound, creating a del icate fabric of sound . The ensemble exhibits remarkable control during extended quiet and sustruned sections. Listen ing ro this work is an almost mystical experience as events unfold in slow motion Rnd Kancheli's tex tures paint vivid blocks ofcolor. T he other works on d1e disc, which feature violinist Gidon Kremer, prove equally evocative and make this a release wel l worth owning.

rhe liner notes provide no insight in to d1e petformers, works, or com poser but do offer some artistic photos of windswept beaches and rhe performers in various candid poses. One could consider Garbarek's works to be a fusion of jazz and new-age styles. His own tenor and soprano sax playing soars over synthesizers and a drum track with undulating harmony. Eastern European inspired melorues feature both Garbarek and an almost elec trified-- or at least amplifled-- Kashkashian. She sounds terrific and convincing. Thjs is a very cool disc, perhaps one ro bring our to impress yoW' non-violist fi·iends with just how very hip the viola can be. Maybe not earth-shattering music, but very weUdone. Part dance mix, part merutation, part smooth jazz. An exotic departu re from rhe CO's usually reviewed here.

Monodia

Kim Kashkashian, viola Munich Chamber Orchestra, Christoph Poppen, conductor

Leonidas Kaval

In L'istesso Tempo

Gidon Kremer, violin, Oleg Mrusenberg, piano, Kremcrata Baltica, The Bridge Ensemble

ECM Records 2004 ECM 1850/5 1

In Praise of Dreams

Yet another in ECM's New Series, th is disc with accompanying 52 page booiJ et featW'es the work of conremporaty Armenian Composer T igran Mansurian performed by an all -star cast. Kim Kashkashian plays a leading role as soloist in the Concerto for Viola a11d O rchcsrra, as duo partner wi th saxophonist Jan Garbarek(who own compositions

ECM Records 2005 ECM 1767

Jan Garbarek, saxophone, Kim Kashkashian, viola, Manu Katchc, drums

This disc is parr ofECM's New Series, a laudable project focusing on contemporary composers. fn rhis instance, the composer in question is the Georgian Giya Kanchcli. Dense program notes rranslated from German unforru

ECM Records 2004 ECM 1880

This new ECM disc features works written and performed by saxo phonist Jan Garbarek. Once again,

NUMBER 2

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