Jasper String Quartet (J Freivogel and Karen Kim, violins; Andrew Gonzalez, viola; Rachel Henderson Freivogel, cello), Natalie Zhu, piano.
Tina DAVIDSON: Tremble
Tina DAVIDSON: Barefoot
Tina DAVIDSON: Wēpan
Tina DAVIDSON: Hush
Tina DAVIDSON: Leap
New Focus Recordings fcr415
Formats: CD, digital
Release Date: July 26, 2024
Total Duration: 49:46
Giorgio Koukl | 5 AUG 2024
Tina Davidson, a composer known for her lyrical, emotional, and evocative music, creates a distinct problem with categorization. Reducing her work to merely a minimalistic style is highly reductive and certainly covers only some of the array of elements she uses in her work.
fcr415 cover art (click to enlarge)
Analyzing in depth her works present on this CD and other scores of the past, we can note her capacity to produce rich, flowing melodies that are expressive and introspective. Her use of lyrical lines gives her compositions a singing quality.
She indeed incorporates minimalist techniques, such as repetitive patterns and gradual transformations. However, her use of these techniques is often more subtle and integrated with other elements, such as lush and varied harmonic language, often blending traditional harmonies with contemporary dissonances. She creates harmonic progressions that are both complex and accessible.
On this album, we can follow nearly a decade of works for strings and piano, all played by the outstanding Jasper String Quartet: J Freivogel and Karen Kim, violins, Andrew Gonzalez, viola and Rachel Henderson Freivogel, cello, together with the pianist Natalie Zhu.
This choice is certainly a winning one, as the five musicians, rarely interconnected on a single piece, seemingly enjoy every moment of the music. They are able to create magical moments even in places where the score offers a minimum of musical interest.
The first six tracks presented are: a ten-minute piece called Tremble, which is probably the best piece of this choice and rightly placed at the beginning. This trio is certainly musical material that will survive in the future, as there are not many valid contemporary scores, especially for this chamber music formation.
The second track is called Barefoot, giving so the name to the whole CD. As the composer explains: “Barefoot is a celebration of exhilarating connection to the physical — dance, freedom, and the earth.” It consists of a long glissandi study, which, despite the piano quartet’s efforts, tends to be a little too long. Written in 2011, it is the oldest score of this installment.
L: composer Tina Davidson; R: pianist Nathalie Zhu.
The third track is entitled Wēpan. This strange word comes from Old English and would be best translated as “weeping.” Here, the full group of five musicians enters the stage, and they do it very convincingly, leaving no doubt about their highest musical quality.
The short violin and piano piece called Hush follows. We can admire the beautiful sound of Mr. Freivogel’s violin, carefully accompanied by the piano; it is a little gem but would certainly need much more development as the nice, neo-Romantic melodies too often end before really having the occasion to catch the listener’s attention.
The last two tracks are called Leap and consist of two movements: “Uncertain Ground” and “Sudden Passage.” They were written during the COVID period in 2021 and are the newest contribution to this CD. This work for piano, violin, viola, and cello again brings the full quality of all musicians participating on the stage. The interplay is nearly perfect, and the bowing technique is refined and elegant.
Generally speaking, this disc is well worth listening to as it presents some high-quality music from our time. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Tina Davidson: tinadavidson.com
- Jasper String Quartet: jasperquartet.com
- Natalie Zhu: pcmsconcerts.org/artist/natalie-zhu-piano
Read more by Giorgio Koukl.
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