Take a moment to consider the phrase, Towards the Light. Curve Ensemble‘s artistic director allowed each composer, some from within the ensemble and others without, to interpret the phrase in their own way. This resulted in seven remarkable pieces that work beautifully as a whole.
The pastel hues of the cover are redolent of Easter, a holiday that is all about light; it suggests a stunning sunrise, a physical phenomenon that is also an easy metaphor. Delightfully, Rael Jones takes the concept in an unexpected direction in the opening track “Fail Better,” suggesting that progress is trial and error, and that even the errors, if one learns from them, can be considered a positive force. The stops and starts of the strings suggest sequential efforts, winding their way to a confident conclusion. Snippets of the recording sessions can be seen below.
Peter Fribbins takes a more spiritual approach with “Choral Prelude on an English Hymn.” The shift in timbre is noticeable as the 13-strong ensemble turns stately and reflective. One thinks not only of ancient churches, but the way in which they were constructed, maximizing the use of light to illuminate the altar in the morning sun and to accentuate the stained glass windows. In the center of the piece, one can even intuit a bit of darkness and the ensuing struggle.
Tony Woolard‘s “Becoming” is swift and sprightly, an uplifting composition that wastes not a single moment; it’s nearly brief enough to have appeared on Shorts. The ensemble exudes light like the crashing of a sunrise over the horizon, or the realization that one has become exactly the person one has set out to be. In contrast, Laure Chan‘s “Lost in Translation” suggests that things are sometimes not that easy; the light seems far away, the path impossibly long. The ensemble offers empathetic, unflagging encouragement, swooping and swooning like murmurations.
Anna De Bruin and Daniel Hewson head to the stars on “Pleiades,” honoring the evening sky, as well as every wish made upon a star. The Seven Sisters, mentioned in multiple mythologies, have been an inspiration around the world. The piece grows playful in its center, frolicking around the sky, offering brief solo glimpses as if each star were being considered in turn. A bit of percussion enhances the feeling of joy.
Jim Perkins contributes “After Dark” and “Breaching,” adding to the multitude of interpretations. The first piece is pensive and sedate, as if embracing the different lights visible in the night sky, or perhaps even the revelations that arrive in the dead of night. “Breaching” reflects the simple act of a whale rising to the surface, following the sunbeams glimpsed from below. Most creatures long for light, while some feel it is in short supply; Towards the Light is a reminder that we are bathed daily in sunlight, moonlight and the light of the stars, and that even our darkest corners may one day be illumined. (Richard Allen)