Great instrument; great music-making

Peter Sheppard Skaerved's series The Great Violins on Athene began with the May 2016 release of a well-received double-CD Telemann disc, played on a beautiful 1570 Andrea Amati violin. According to the marketing material at the time, the series is projected to have at least 10 releases, which is great news for lovers of the violin. Back then the second volume was set to be another two-disc set, of the Bach music for solo violin, but I guess the opportunity to play a beloved instrument of his compatriot Ole Bull pushed that back to v3.

The violin in this case was made by Niccolò Amati (Andrea's grandson) in 1647. It was once owned by Ole Bull, who loved it so much he named it 'my Pearl'. All the pieces included in this CD, subtitled "an Ole Bull salon concert" are works Bull regularly included in his recitals to show off his Pearl and his own considerable talent. Here we have an opportunity in the 21st century to re-live those days (it's called a 'replica' concert in the liner notes), while experiencing Skaerved's own considerable musicianship and virtuosity. This is a more varied programme than the Telemann discs, and this is one of the things I like the best about it. Though not the kind of music I often listen to, there's so much simple, heartfelt melody here.

Here's a perfect example: Bull's lovely Aurora:


Accompanying Skaerved here is pianist Roderick Chadwick, who provides strong support in the Mozart and a handful of other pieces (on an unfortunately anonymous piano - I couldn't find any information about it). I'm really pleased that we're getting these innovative CD programmes from top artists lately. Projects such as this one and ReSound Beethoven give an additional layer of historical interest to the music, and when the music-making is as fine as this, that's a big bonus. Now on to Bach!

A remarkable, life-affirming collaboration

Sadie Harrison is a composer of considerable stature, with a significant oeuvre that shows variety, depth and originality. She has been engaged in two additional professions which enhance her music. She's a professional gardener, which gives her insights into the natural world and organic processes, and also an archaeologist, which opens windows into other cultures and to the past.  The Rosegarden of Light project is a fascinating partnership with Cuatro Puntos (with whom Harrison is working closely, as composer in residence), a chamber music collective dedicated to global cooperation and peace, and student ensembles of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (including the girls' Ensemble Zohra and the Junior Ensemble of Traditional Afghan Instruments).

The combination of Harrison's special writing for strings, full of deceptively simple, open tunes and intricate rhythms and harmonies, and the joyful traditional Afghan music with its delightful sound palette gives this music an uplifting feeling. You can play clips from each track [the entire album] at the Toccata Classics website, and get a hint of this highly successful cross-cultural project. It makes one at least a tiny bit optimistic that music can indeed change lives, even for young people looking for life and joy against such high odds.

While waiting for the release of this disc on June 10, 2016, why not check out Harrison's earlier music.  From her work ...Under the Circle of the Moon..., on the 2015 album Solos and Duos for Strings and Piano, this is The Vision of Anne Catherine Emmerich (an early 19th century Catholic mystic):

And here is the title work for chamber orchestra from her 2012 album An Unexpected Light: