-20%

Edge of Youth

Janet Sung

20,9922,99
Clear
Original Recording Format: DXD
Learn about choosing Quality and Channels

Edge of Youth is violinist Janet Sung’s debut album on Sono Luminus.  Accompanied by pianist William Wolfram, she perfoms what reviewers have called a “daringly original program” with compositions from Enescu and Britten plus 3 selections from living composers. 

Janet Sung says “The Edge of Youth represents a time when one starts to discover a new, more mature version of their own voice or self. We find confidence in that voice when we allow ourselves to go to the “edge” of what is known or comfortable. Brought up steeped in the traditions of classical music, and deeply influenced by some of the greatest violinists of the “old world”, this album represents some of that artistic journey for me. In curating this collection of works by masters Britten, Enescu and three young, dynamic living composers, Missy Mazzoli, Dan Visconti and Gabriel Prokofiev, I gravitated toward works that were striking to me and in some ways unexpected—whether it was a new sound world, a new perspective on an old familiar work, or the surprising way certain works profoundly grew in their impact.”

Impressions d’enfance, Op. 28 (1940) Georges Enescu (1881-1955)

 

Tracklist

Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.
1.
Impressions d'enfance, Op. 28 No. 1, Menetrier
03:28
2.
Impressions d'enfance, Op. 28 No. 2, Vieux mendiant
02:57
3.
Impressions d'enfance, Op. 28 No. 3, Ruisselet au fond du jardin
02:22
4.
Impressions d'enfance, Op. 28 No. 4, L'oiseau en cage et le coucou au mur
02:16
5.
Impressions d'enfance, Op. 28 No. 5, Chanson pour bercer
01:52
6.
Impressions d'enfance, Op. 28 No. 6, Grillon
00:23
7.
Impressions d'enfance, Op. 28 No. 7, Lune a travers les vitres
02:17
8.
Impressions d'enfance, Op. 28 No. 8, Vent dans la cheminee
00:25
9.
Impressions d'enfance, Op. 28 No. 9, Tempete au dehors, dans la nuit
02:03
10.
Impressions d'enfance, Op. 28 No. 10, Lever de soleil
03:30
11.
Dissolve, O My Heart
07:09
12.
Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 6 I. Introduction. Andante maestoso
00:32
13.
Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 6 II. March. Allegro alla marcia
02:42
14.
Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 6 III. Moto perpetuo. Allegro molto e con fuoco
03:21
15.
Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 6 IV. Lullaby. Lento tranquillo
04:49
16.
Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 6 V. Waltz. Vivace e rubato
05:03
17.
Rave-Up
04:15
18.
Sleeveless Scherzo
08:41

Total time: 00:58:05

Additional information

Label

SKU

DSL92230

Qualities

, ,

Channels

Artists

Composers

, , , ,

Genres

,

Digital Converters

Horus (recording), Hapi (mastering), Merging Technologies

Editing Software

Pyramix, Merging Technologies

Mastering Engineer

Daniel Shores

Mastering Room

Legacy Audio Speakers

Instruments

,

Original Recording Format

Producer

Dan Merceruio

Recording Engineer

Daniel Shores

Recording Location

Sono Luminus Studios, Boyce, Virginia on December 4-8, 2017

Recording Software

Pyramix, Merging Technologies

Recording Type & Bit Rate

DXD

Release DateApril 26, 2019

Press reviews

The Classic Review

First, one has to acknowledge the daringly original program. Not very common for a debut album, violinist Janet Sung chose 2 main pieces from the 20th century by Enescu and Britten, along with 3 pieces by living composers.

Enescu’s fascinating “Impressions d’ enfance” (“Impressions from Childhood”), Op. 28 from 1940, is the composer taking a musical trip down memory lane with touches of modernism, folk, and little impressionism. Sung in fully sensitive to all of these elements, combining a remarkable bow and left-hand technique that incorporates all the tender singing, declaratory roughness and naivety this piece is calling for. Hear how marvelous is her bird-singing effect on track 4, or how the long phrasing is held in the Lullaby movement (track 5). Pianist William Wolfram is a sympathetic partner throughout the duo pieces in this album, with memorable moments such as the harp-like episode in the “Sunrise” movement (track 10, 2:20).

The Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 6, written a few years before the Enescu piece, is Britten at his youthful exploration period, where influences of modernist composers are still very much apparent. Yet this is a joyful listen, the composition as well as the performance. In this instance, Sung and Wolfram are allowing for some humor to sneak in, especially on the second “March” movement, while reserving some lovely sentimentality too, once again, in the fourth, “Lullaby” movement.

Sung chose 3 diverse pieces for the contemporary music section of this album. Missy Mazzoli’s “Dissolve, O My Heart for Solo Violin” contains a small homage to Bach’s second partita (the opening chords of the famous “Chaconne” is opening the piece), yet takes it into different directions, harmonically, rhythmically and conceptually. A mesmerizing piece, it also sits completely natural with the violin, allowing Sung to show her technical skills to the fullest.

Dan Visconti’s “Rave-Up” is a fun piece for violin and piano that incorporates few contemporary styles, including touches of jazz, blues, and country music. Gabriel Prokofiev’s “Sleeveless Scherzo” is a more minimalist, almost thin in musical material, that shows Sung’s concentration abilities and skillfulness in the difficult bow and pizzicato combination required here.

Intimately recorded at the Luminus Studios in Virginia, this makes for an impressive and highly enjoyable album.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.

Sono Luminus 76 albums

More from this label

Currency
Cart