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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2018
SONO LUMINUS RELEASES FOUR STRINGS AROUND THE WORLD
FEATURING VIOLINIST IRINA MURESANU
NEW YORK, NY – On April 27, 2018, Sono Luminus releases Four Strings Around the World [DSL-92221] an album featuring the acclaimed Romanian-born violinist Irina Muresanu in a program celebrating the diversity of cultures refracted through the unifying voice of solo violin. The recording includes two world premiere works: Vák by Indian-born Shirish Korde and Oshta (Four) by Chickasaw Nation composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (commissioned especially for this project and dedicated to Irina Muresanu), as well as the US recording premiere of George Enescu’s Airs in Romanian Folk Style. Other featured works include Dave Flynn’s Tar Éis an Caoineadh'; Caprice No. 24 by Niccolò Paganini; Fritz Kreisler’s Recitativo and Scherzo, Op. 6; J.S. Bach’s Ciaccona from the Partita in D minor, BWV 1004; Reza Vali’s Calligraphy No. 5; The Stream Flows: II by Bright Sheng; Astor Piazzolla’s Tango Étude No. 3; and Mark O’Connor’s The Cricket Dance.
The idea for Four Strings Around the World grew out of the challenges Muresanu encountered as she was learning Mark O’Connor’s Cricket Dance (the final selection on the album). An experienced concert violinist, Muresanu was used to absorbing complex scores in a matter of weeks. She wondered why this work was proving so challenging. She writes, “Could it have been because it was written in a musical style completely different from my classical training? And if so, how many more different languages were there outside of the traditional/standard classical repertoire? Inspired by this question, I started my exploration of works reflecting the various ways the violin is employed in musical settings worldwide. What resulted is Four Strings Around the World… a project that immersed me in sounds and colors I didn’t even realize could be produced by my own instrument.”
The album, which is organized into two sections—Music from Western & Eastern Europe and Music from the Middle East, Asia, South and North America—opens with a work from Romania, George Enescu’s Airs in Romanian Folk Style. Muresanu writes, “I thought it fitting to start the journey in Romania, my native country.” Her journey led her to discover composers from Iran, Ireland, and China including Reza Vali, Dave Flynn, and Bright Sheng, all of whom drew inspiration from the music of their own nations. Finding compositions inspired by Indian music or Native American music proved more of a challenge, but it gave Muresanu the opportunity to add to the solo violin repertoire by commissioning works by Shirish Korde, (a composer of East Indian descent), and Chickasaw Nation composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, who wrote pieces inspired by, respectively, Indian ragas and a Native American hymn. Reflecting her classical training roots, Muresanu built the program around the two greatest masterworks of the violin repertoire: the Paganini 24th Caprice and the Bach Ciaccona. Also included is Kreisler’s Recitativo and Scherzo, which embodies (as she writes) “the inimitable Viennese spirit and was suggested to me by my beloved teacher, Michèle Auclair many years ago. I have been playing it ever since and it is my homage to her legacy.” The album ends with the piece that sparked her journey, Mark O’Connor’s Cricket Dance, and brings us back to the United States, where the violinist now lives, works and has a family.
MEDIA ONLY DOWNLOAD
For physical review copies or a link to a digital download please contact: Paula Mlyn, paula@a440arts.com
TRACK LIST:
George Enescu (Romania)
Airs in Romanian Folk Style
1. I. Moderato (molto rubato) [2:59]
2. II. Allegro giusto [1:47]
3. III. Andante [2:12]
4. IV. Allegro giocoso [1:52]
Dave Flynn (Ireland)
5. Tar Éis an Caoineadh' [8:14]
Niccolò Paganini (Ireland)
6. Caprice No. 24 [4:58]
Fritz Kreisler (Austria)
7. Recitativo and Scherzo, Op. 6 [4:55]
Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany)
8. Ciaccona from the Partita in D minor, BWV 1004 [14:08]
Reza Vali (Iran)
9. Calligraphy No. 5 [6:36]
Shirish Korde (India)
Vák
10. I. Alap [4:25]
11. II. Jor [2:23]
12. III. Jhalla [3:27]
Bright Sheng (China)
13. The Stream Flows: II [4:23]
Astor Piazzolla (Argentina)
14. Tango Étude No. 3 [3:39]
Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (Chickasaw Nation)
15. Oshta (Four) [8:31]
Mark O’Connor (United States)
16. The Cricket Dance [1:52]
Total Time: 76:10
MORE ABOUT IRINA MURESANU:
Romanian violinist Irina Muresanu has won the hearts of audiences and critics alike with her “irresistible,” (Boston Globe) exciting, elegant and heartfelt performances of the classic, romantic and modern repertoire. The Globe also praised her as “not just a virtuoso, but an artist” and the Los Angeles Times has written that her “musical luster, melting lyricism and colorful conception made Irina Muresanu’s performance especially admirable”.
Muresanu is a laureate and top prize winner in Montreal International, Washington International, Pro Musicis International and Queen Elisabeth violin competitions. She has performed in renowned concert halls throughout North America, Europe and Asia. An active chamber musician and recitalist, Ms. Muresanu is a member of the Boston Trio and actively performs with Mistral and Walden Chamber Players.
In 2013, Muresanu introduced her “Four Strings Around the World” project. Critic Keith Powers noticed the formidable virtuosic stamina and originality of this program in the Cape Cod Times:
“Four Strings Around the World” not only extends the superbly talented Muresanu in new directions, but offers a glimpse into variations of violin technique and approach that would only be gleaned by attending different concerts in various country fairs, Irish pubs, campfire gatherings and parlors.
Irina Muresanu has a substantial discography on BMOP, Avie Records, Albany Records, Centaur and AR RE-SE labels, most recently working closely with composers Thomas Oboe Lee, Elena Ruehr and William Bolcom.
Irina Muresanu currently serves on the faculty the University of Maryland and has taught at Boston Conservatory and in the Harvard and MIT Music Departments. She plays an 1849 Giuseppe Rocca violin and an Étienne Pajeot bow.