Parry studied electroacoustics and contemporary dance at
Concordia University in Montreal. He has written commissioned works for Kronos
Quartet, yMusic and Bryce Dessner, and his chamber works have been performed by
the Calder Quartet and Warhol Dervish.
His first work for
Orchestra, entitled For Heart, Breath and
Orchestra was recorded by the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony in 2011. For Heart, Breath and Orchestra is one of
a number of works by Richard Reed Parry recorded for Deutsche Grammophon www.deutschegrammophon.com/gb/cat/4793061
by the young performers that make up the
sextet yMusic http://ymusicensemble.com
along with Bryce and Aaron Dessner, www.brycedessner.com http://posthocmanagement.com/client/aaron-dessner
the
Kronos Quartet www.kronosquartet.org
and the composer himself entitled Music for Heart and Breath.
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| 0289 479 3061 7 CD DDD GH 0289 479 3710 4 2 LPs DDD GH2 and download |
The first work on this new release is Richard Reed Parry’s Quintet for Heart and Breath performed
by members of Ymusic http://ymusicensemble.com
an ensemble equally comfortable in the
overlapping classical and pop music worlds and who play a unique combination of
instruments: string trio, flute, clarinet and trumpet.
Pizzicato strings open and are soon joined by the flute
followed by trumpet, then pizzicato cello. A longer bowed violin motif is heard
against the repeated rhythmic sounds of the other instruments. Despite its
minimalistic elements there are so many variations of tempo and textures that
the interest is always kept. The cello draws rich, long drawn chords before the
trumpet provides staccato phrases over the pizzicato strings. Eventually a
slower, longer breathed melodic passage arrives with some lovely textures but
it is the pizzicato strings and staccato phrases that lead to the coda.
For Heart and Breath
sextet members of Ymusic are joined by pianist Nico Muhly http://nicomuhly.com opening with a sliding,
falling motif on the violin opens before being developed with the cello joining
quietly. This is strange and remarkably affecting writing for strings to which
a piano adds a rippling motif. Soon there are long string phrases, a little
anguished in sound before the piano interrupts, then some phrases for strings. The
cello and piano sound out before gentler string phrases before rich cello
phrases alternate with strong piano chords. A melancholy string theme arrives
with some beautifully intense playing from these artists. When the piano re-enters
alone a chiming motif is repeated whilst the strings gently enter in this
lovely moment. As the piano motif continues, the strings give little droops and
slides. The cello plays a rising motif above the repeated chiming piano motif,
as then do the strings to that lead to the coda.
This fifteen minute sextet is highly attractive and well
worth hearing.
For Heart, Breath and
Orchestra, Richard Reed Parry’s first work for orchestra is played here by
members of Ymusic, Nadia Sirota (viola), Hideaki Aomori (clarinet) and Clarice
Jensen (cello) with Nico Muhly (piano),
Caroline Shaw (violin), Caleb Burhans (violin), Shawn Conley (double
bass), Amelia Lukas (flute), Yuki Numata (violin), Courtney Orlando (violin),
Annaliesa Place (violin), Arthur Sato (oboe), Brian Snow (cello) and Richard
Reed Parry (celeste) forming a chamber sized orchestra.
Pizzicato strings open this work in a series of little
phrases before a pizzicato violin leads to another motif for all the strings
playing pizzicato. A cello quietly enters on a long held note against the
pizzicato players before all the players join, creating an attractive blend. The
music continues with cello phrases alternating with pizzicato strings and piano
until it fades to silence. Deeper
pizzicato strings then emerge, growing slowly louder and faster. The celeste
plays a little theme as the pizzicato strings climb higher with the sound of a
wood block. As the theme continues, it becomes fuller in sound as the whole
ensemble join, including a flute before fading. A sudden outburst of pizzicato strings leads the
music on, with the flute and other instruments sounding through. Longer cello
phrases emerge from the ensemble with much rapid pizzicato playing that leads
to the coda.
Interruptions – Heart
and Breath Nonet is in ten movements or sections and again features YMusic
this time joined by Bryce Dessner and Aaron Dessner (guitars) and Richard Reed
Parry.
The cello opens I
Miniature before pizzicato strings interrupt, with the cello playing a
lovely melody. II String Peaks brings
a deep cello melody against a sonorous ensemble in a slightly hesitant piece. There
are some lovely string and wind sonorities.
III Wind’s Idea
has a rich cello opening with quietly strummed guitar phrases and chirpy flute
appearing with, again, lovely rich sonorities from the ensemble. String
arpeggios accompany the cello melody in IV
Miniature II before V Sticks Tension
brings gentle strummed strings, flute and trumpet. Soon a long held high note from
the clarinet is heard with the strummed guitars before the cello enters. A pulsating
passage from trumpet, cello and strings builds a constantly shifting harmony.
Strings open with a lovely theme in VI French guitars, where guitars are gently strummed and a curious
whistling sound is heard, very like the Flexatone. As the entire ensemble join in this languorous
section beautiful harmonies are created. A long held trumpet note enters over
the ensemble leading to coda. Strings and trumpet open VII Freedom Winds, Strings and Drones providing long phrases in
this sonorous movement, full of dense textures. Slowly the music rises in a
wonderful sequence with the drone of strings and a plangent trumpet.
This is a very unusual, captivating piece.
Heart and Breath Duet
features Nadia Sirota (viola) www.nadiasirota.com
and Richard Reed Parry (piano). Both cello and piano open the duet with a
rocking theme for piano and longer held phrases for cello that slowly rise up to
hushed, gently breathed phrases. There is a pause before the theme continues,
with the cello gliding over the strings in hushed, breath like sounds. Another
pause occurs before the piano continues its rocking rhythm with the cello
providing firmer, soulful phrases before suddenly stopping.
This is a slight but unusual conception with some lovely
instrumental sounds.
Parry’s Quartet for
Heart and Breath features the renowned Kronos Quartet and opens with pizzicato
phrases that are slowly built in layers as each player enters. Here Parry’s minimalist
qualities return. A longer breathed theme appears over pizzicato lower strings
before the cello plays deep chords again over the pizzicato strings. There is
no real development in this piece, just varying textures. The pizzicato strings
become dominant before the longer breathed theme arrives with all players
joining in the drone like sonorities. The pizzicato motif returns and slowly
leads to the coda.
There is some fine, sensitive playing from the Kronos
Quartet in this piece that brings more of Parry’s interest in subtle
sonorities.
My advance copy of this disc has a bonus track, Interruption: VII Freeform Winds only, a version of VII for wind only for woodwind and brass only, allowing the striking sonorities to emerge more clearly.
Those with an open mind and ear will find much to fascinate
and, indeed, to enjoy here, especially the lovely sonorities Richard Reed Parry
achieves.
One or two tracks are recorded rather closely, sometimes at
the expense of clarity but the recording is clear and, overall, very detailed.
Richard Reed Parry’s
band, Arcade Fire are headlining on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2014, on
Friday, 27th June. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
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