Tonescapes [RB]: Classical CD Reviews- December 2003 MusicWeb(UK)

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Classical Editor: Rob Barnett Founder Len Mullenger

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OASIS RJEFFFREYS1 63697/2-1
rjeffreys@charter.net
http://webpages.charter.net/jrjeff/Tonescapes.html

Tonescapes
Steve TUNG and Victor WONG Alone in the rain for alto flute and piano (2000) [3.37]
Mel LAUF jr. Orientale (1999): In the Rice Paddy; In the Temple [4.30+3.36]
Gabriel FAURE arr. Wye Cantique de Jean Racine [5.20]
arr. Alberto ARANTES Pot-Pourri Brasileira (1999) [6.33]
Jennifer GRADY Soaring (1997) [2.42]
Catherine McMICHAEL Academie of Dance (2000) (Chante; Ecossaise; Pavane; Galliarde) [3.44+3.17+3.26+4.26]; Baikal Journey (2002) (Sacred Cauldron; Ancient Friend; Pearl of Siberia; Crystal Sea) [3.38+3.14+8.45+5.25]
George Frederick MCKAY Lyric Poem [3.24]
Rebecca Jeffreys (flute/piccolo)
Lisa Sheldone (flute/piccolo)
Karen Edwards (flute/alto flute)
Kara Ebert (alto/bass flute)
Natassja Lintzau (piano)
rec. ADD
TONESCAPES 83707 57132 [66.23]

The variety of style in this journey through the melodic realms of flute music makes for a pleasing balance. Alone in the rain is a breathy rainy-day dream and the Lauf diptych is as vivacious and sharp as a new pin. It is perfectly in keeping with the soul of flute with the lovely chime of the two flutes recalling idyllic playing in Basil Poledouris's Conan score and de Hartmann's oriental miniatures.

Arantes' Brazilian fantasy is a jeu d'esprit with a cheeky appearance put in by the Girl from Ipanema. Grady's Soaring is a dewy idyll for two flutes. It is typical of McKay that his Lyric Poem for four flutes should be the most substantial piece here - chiming and kindly music.

There are two multi-movement pieces from Catherine McMichael. The Academie sequence takes a tour through antique plainchant, an impudent ecossaise, a Fauré-like Pavane and a free-flying heart's-ease of a galliarde. The Baikal Journey is a further suite. The title refers to Lake Baikal in the one-time USSR. It contains one fifth of the world's fresh water and is a stretch of water 400 miles long. Folk and original music are woven together. The names of the movement follow the local names for the lake. This is all strangeness and inwardness. Ancient Friend sounds like a Geordie folk ballad. Pearl of Siberia is magical and mysterious. The finale uses a simple 'Bobby Shaftoe'-type tune with harpsichord figuration in the piano. This develops into an accelerating 'Katinka' Cossack dance.

If there is to be a Tonescapes 2 Rebecca Jeffreys could consider including another four flute work; Alan Hovhaness's Spirit of Ink. We know that McKay and Hovhaness were friends. Perhaps the McKay Lyric Poem (also for four flutes) was the inspiration for the Hovhaness work. If Jeffreys and her colleagues do tackle this piece of fantasy-exotica theirs will be the first 'natural' recording. Although Spirit of Ink is included on Crystal CD809 the four flute parts had been multi-tracked with each line played by Samuel Baron (1925-1997).
Rob Barnett

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