I have previously reviewed two very fine discs of organ
works by the American composer Carson
Cooman (b. 1982) www.carsoncooman.com
released by Divine Art Recordings
Now from Divine Art Diversions
comes a very enticing mini-album featuring two orchestral works by this
composer including his Symphony No. 4.
The Slovak National Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Kirk Trevor http://kirktrevor.com.
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This new disc opens with Shoreline Rune (2014) for string orchestra and harp, dedicated to
the composer Judith Weir on her 60th birthday. One is invited to
imagine standing on the shore watching an entire tide cycle compressed into the
five minute duration of the work. The piece opens impressively with deep rich
sonorities before a theme arises. In the quieter moments that follow there is an
intense feeling of brooding with sudden little outbursts subtly pointed up by the
harp as the music moves slowly ahead. There are moments of intense, static
wonder as the coda is reached. Kirk Trevor directs the Slovak National Symphony
Orchestra in a beautifully controlled performance.
Symphony No. 4,
‘Liminal’ (2014) for orchestra is scored for brass, two harps and strings. It
addresses the issue of climate change with the subtitle ‘Liminal’ taken from
the Latin word for threshold as well as its use when describing rituals and
processes.
Harp strums are heard against a hushed deep orchestral
background as the music slowly tries to heave itself up. Various instruments
including a cello and brass appear out of the mists with lovely points of colour
and brightness from the two harps even though they register a dissonance due to
their ¼ tone difference in tuning. Little pizzicato string phrases appear over
the gentle brass before the music slowly increases in dynamics until cut off with
soft harp arpeggios. The orchestra swirls around in while brass bring fine
details in this distinctively orchestrated music. Soon a rhythmic pulse appears
in the basses over which strings hold a chord and the harps bring flourishes with
brass intoning. The brass break out dynamic phrases as the music becomes more
dramatic. Yet the harps soon bring back the misty aura with hushed strings and
brass quietly sounding. The harps play a three note motif as the strings weave
in the mists, the harps bringing that dissonance, a pull on one’s senses
showing all is not well.
There are drooping phrases from the violins as a bass tuba
intones, then a trumpet creating an air of unsettling menace. The brass break
out again leading to a fast, rhythmic string passage around which the harps
revolve, their tuning adding an edge. Soon the whole orchestra sounds out
through the repeated violin motif with harps arpeggios. This is a really
terrific moment.
Brass join the harps to add even more edgy harmonies before
the music rises to another climax for orchestra over a repeated violin motif.
Eventually repose is found where one harp plays a gentle tune over dissonant
higher strings that gently rise and fall. Brass join adding a rather melancholy
feel with the single harp and upper strings seeming to find a gentle resolution
over which a trumpet plays quietly. But as the upper strings hold a long gentle
chord the two harps enter to bring a final questioning phrase. Is this really a
resolution? Like the problem of climate change, we do not know
This is a very fine work indeed, beautifully played by the
Slovak National Symphony Orchestra under Kirk Trevor. They are finely recorded
at the Slovak Radio Studio, Bratislava.
This fine new disc concludes with one of Carson Cooman’s
organ works, Prism (2003) played by
Erik Simmons www.divine-art.co.uk/AS/eriksimmons.htm
, the very fine soloist on the two previous Carson Cooman organ discs from
Divine Art.
The piece opens quietly on a single chord to which a pedal
is added, slowly broadening with a descending motif. A gentle melody moves
ahead, underscored by a deep pedal line and providing the perfect postlude to
the symphony. The music builds some fine
textures with Cooman showing what a master composer he is for the organ, before
leading to a long held chord to end peacefully, calmly and gently.
This is an impressive line-up of works that receive
excellent recordings. There are useful booklet notes from the composer.
Described by Divine Art as a mini album this 36 minute disc is
available at mid-price (UK £8.50) (US $12.99)
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