On A Ground

On a Ground is a radiant program of works spanning “Renaissance Spain to 21st century Denmark." The uniting theme, both across the repertoire and within each piece, is the deployment of the repeated ground bass. The selected works are intimate, lyrical, and hypnotic. Recordist Michala Petri and Marie Nishiyama, performing on the baroque harp, play with characteristically exquisite tonal beauty and consummate artistry. On a Ground is a recital that commands full and undivided attention. Warmly recommended.

The booklet note explains that “The element of repetition is one of music's most universal traits.” Continuing, “Whether as a rhythmic pattern, part of a tune, or a complete melody, this simple formula is truly common ground to every musical culture on the planet, and has been called many different names: ostinato, chaconne, passacaglia, and of course, ground.” Furthermore, repetition and patterns are comforting, because they restore a degree of predictability to our lives. Things that have happened before tending to happen again. Yes, there are times when we want to be surprised, but at other times, as Holiday Inn hotels used to say, “the best surprise is no surprise.” Repetition and patterns are intrinsic to the works on this CD. Also, the works themselves are in many cases, familiar, or at least the tunes are.
Listeners who strongly believe that all music should be intimidating and difficult, and that it must make them feel stressed, might not like this program. That seems like an awful way to live, however. In the end, On A Ground does not defy analysis as much as it makes it unnecessary. Don't pull the petals from a rose. I think almost all of Fanfare's readers will enjoy this, and take healing and comfort from it.