“Mosaic” – New Interpretations of Early Music for Horn, Cello & Piano – Duende Trio: Jeffrey Agrell, horn/Gil Selinger, cello/ Evan Mazunik, piano – MSR Classics

by | Sep 16, 2007 | Classical CD Reviews | 0 comments

“Mosaic” – New Interpretations of Early Music for Horn, Cello & Piano – Duende Trio: Jeffrey Agrell, horn/Gil Selinger, cello/ Evan Mazunik, piano – MSR Classics MS 1158, 54:29 *****[Distr. by Albany]:

(Themes of ADAM DE LA HALL, ANON., GIOVANNI MACQUE, HILDEGARDE VON BINGEN, CONON DE BETHUNE, NIKOLAUS AMMERBACH & Traditional Sephardic)

Modern arrangements of early music are nothing new, but this fresh new collection of improvisatory interpretations puts a different face on the practice.  Especially unusual is such an approach within the standard classical performance arena;  the work of Duene reminded me more of some of the similar efforts on the ECM jazz label.  There was also a recent classical guitar CD of similar import.

Some of these composers – such as Hildegarde von Bingen – go back as far as the 12th century.  Instead of researching the musicological details of the music and its accurate performance according to the norms of the period, Duende takes the melodies and  wails on them much as a jazz pianist would do with a tune from the Great American Songbook.  The three skilled musicians of Duende are discovering the future thru the past. They are bringing back the element of improvisation which was a central part of classical performance up until the Romantic era.  Their idea is that if they can create music on the spot, so to speak, why not create completely fresh interpretations of existing old music?

The idea behind using Mosaic for the CD title is perfect. I’m a fan of mosaics, and they mostly have some rough edges but come together in a glorious work of art. The same could be said of these 13 short improvisations. Some are of dance music, such as a saltarello, and really swing in some spots. The lengthiest is a very imaginative 8 1/2 minute improvisation on the popular medieval theme The Armed Man (which Karl Jenkins used for his famous recent Mass). The two Sephardic tunes add a sparkle and oriental twist to the program and are among those making use of some additional percussion sounds.  The transparent-quality sound was recorded at the University of Iowa School of Music, my old alma mater.

 – John Sunier

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