New Album
SONIC ALCHEMY
Image: Cary Jobe
Sonic Alchemy features solo, duo, and trio works by W.A. Mozart, Arvo Pärt and Pēteris Vasks, performed by violinist Yueun Kim, pianist Mina Gajic, and cellist Coleman Itzkoff.
The album weaves together music spanning several centuries – from 1782 to 2013 – connected by a common quality of creating ephemeral moments that seem removed from time, encouraging deep, meditative listening.
Inspired by the transformation and fluidity of life, represented by the seasons in nature, and in humankind in the way people connect through religion and spirituality. In that way we can look towards Mozart–Adagio and see how it ‘converts’ to a trio while remaining true to itself at the same time.
Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel is as mirrored reflections in water, movement and stillness appearing simultaneously. Vasks’ Castillo Interior echoes the same thoughts but this time they seem to refer to something internal, very personal. In this respect I was glad to collaborate with colleagues who – like myself – walk the line between historical and modern instruments, crossing into practices and repertoires of the 21st century.
Bach Uncaged is a groundbreaking album by electro-acoustic violinist Zachary Carrettin and pianist Mina Gajić, blending J.S. Bach's music on electric violin with John Cage's prepared piano compositions. The album chronicles diverse performances across various acoustic settings, including collaborations with contemporary and aerial/vertical dance.
Carrettin employs an electric violin tuned low with a baroque bow, occasionally using a delay pedal to highlight Bach's manuscript intricacies, emphasizing harmonic stasis and artistic script. The pairing of prepared piano with the "baroque" electric violin creates a shared sonic space, enabling improvised phrasing sensitive to dancers and environment.
While Bach's compositions are known for their dance connections, Cage's works on this record exude a uniquely dance-like quality, characterized by simplicity, playfulness, and rhythmic vitality, contrasting Bach's complex harmonic developments in solo violin sonatas. Both composers led spiritually rich lives, influenced by texts and artistry, with Cage integrating visual arts and Zen philosophy into his compositions, exemplified in the evocative "Sonatas and Interludes."
This album celebrates their innovative approaches to music, resonating with unexpected, spontaneous moments in performance.
