Shulamit Ran

Album review

Shulamit Ran is one of the most highly honored and most frequently performed female composers of her generation. Of course, awards and academia mean very little to the average listener. Fortunately, Ran distinguished herself in another way: in the extreme accessibility of her music. Her tonal and harmonic language is entirely unique, combining the best of melodic writing to hold a listener's interest along with profound explorations of harmony and rhythm. Composed and recorded during her tenure as composer-in-residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Legends is a prime example of this accessibility. Ran herself admits that the piece is not intended to tell any particular story despite its name. Rather, it could represent any number of people, events, or periods in history. Such an open-ended program allows listeners to create their own story as they listen with only the work's title to guide their imaginations -- a truly rewarding experience. Her violin concerto, composed for violinist Ittai Shapira (heard on this album with the BBC Concert Orchestra) again finds Ran using every aspect of melody, harmony, and rhythm at her disposal. The solo violin part frequently shifts from somber, melancholy tones to passages of fiendish virtuosity. That Shapira was present throughout the work's composition cannot be questioned as his performance shares an intimate knowledge of the work that only such a collaboration could yield.

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