Welcome to Keeping Score! This week I have three new releases for you.
The Music
Something Environmental
American composer Jeffery Jacob released Sequoias. Accessible and emotional, the album ranges from symphonies to solo piano. The title piece, Symphony No. 6 “Sequoias” is inspired by the sequoias of california and and is an ode to the natural world, “an appreciation for its transcendental beauty and concern for the devastating impact of climate change.”
Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc.
Something Poetic
Belgian composer Wim Mertens released Heroides. The release explains the title:
The title refers to the Heroides or Epistulae Heroidum, a collection of elegiac poems written by Ovid – the Roman poet born in 43 BC and died in 17 or 18 AD – before his exile in 8 AD. to Tomos, today’s Romanian Constance, in which heroines of Greek mythology such as Hero, Phaedra, Sappho, Canace, Ariadne, Briseis, Philis, Cydipe, Medea, Dido or Hermione wrote to their absent heroic lovers (Phaon, Leander, Demophon, etc.) because of wars or other reasons for separation.
For each heroine, there is a piece with two versions, piano and voice, and strings and piano ensemble. Quiet, minimal, and beautiful, be sure to check this release out.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc.
Something Narrated
American composer Terry Riley took dreams he recorded in his journal, narrated them, added music, and, with American ensemble Bang On A Can All-Stars, released Autodreamographical Tales. This is a really fun and unique album, with a wide range of dreams and music styles in each piece.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc.