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There is certainly no shortage of recordings of Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, but this 2023 release has some unusual features. It is a bit broader than the usual subtle, delicate variety; pianist Bruce Levingston admits that "[w]hile their subtle, ornamental qualities certainly shine brightest in more intimate settings, closer inspection reveals an unexpected depth and complexity to these miniature masterpieces." Sono Luminus backs him up with a rather expansive acoustic in its versatile studio. Perhaps the main attraction here, though, is the set of seven new Songs Without Words by Cecil Price Walden, commissioned by Levingston at the behest of a physician who wanted to memorialize his co-workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike many contemporary works whose titles make reference to 19th century genres, Walden's clearly derive from Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words. The tonal palette is slightly expanded (and just slightly), but the basic configuration of Mendelssohn's works, with an evocative but elusive melody enhanced by fleeting pieces of commentary in accompaniment and ornamentation. In addition to the COVID aspect, there are hints of other social meanings in Walden's work; one of his pieces is entitled "Protest," but these do not fundamentally inflect his compositional language in what is essentially an elegant little album of Romantic and neo-Romantic music. Mendelssohn lovers will certainly find this release of interest.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Cecil Price Walden, Composer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Cecil Price Walden, Composer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Cecil Price Walden, Composer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Cecil Price Walden, Composer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Cecil Price Walden, Composer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Cecil Price Walden, Composer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Cecil Price Walden, Composer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Bruce Levingston, MainArtist - Dan Merceruio, Producer, Editor - Daniel Shores, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. ℗ & © 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
Album review
There is certainly no shortage of recordings of Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, but this 2023 release has some unusual features. It is a bit broader than the usual subtle, delicate variety; pianist Bruce Levingston admits that "[w]hile their subtle, ornamental qualities certainly shine brightest in more intimate settings, closer inspection reveals an unexpected depth and complexity to these miniature masterpieces." Sono Luminus backs him up with a rather expansive acoustic in its versatile studio. Perhaps the main attraction here, though, is the set of seven new Songs Without Words by Cecil Price Walden, commissioned by Levingston at the behest of a physician who wanted to memorialize his co-workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike many contemporary works whose titles make reference to 19th century genres, Walden's clearly derive from Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words. The tonal palette is slightly expanded (and just slightly), but the basic configuration of Mendelssohn's works, with an evocative but elusive melody enhanced by fleeting pieces of commentary in accompaniment and ornamentation. In addition to the COVID aspect, there are hints of other social meanings in Walden's work; one of his pieces is entitled "Protest," but these do not fundamentally inflect his compositional language in what is essentially an elegant little album of Romantic and neo-Romantic music. Mendelssohn lovers will certainly find this release of interest.
© James Manheim /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 21 track(s)
- Total length: 01:12:27
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Bruce Levingston
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Sono Luminus
- Genre: Classical
2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved. 2023 Sono Luminus, LLC. All rights reserved.
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