Summary: SHADOWING PIANO QUARTET AND PIANO SOLOS Ruth Lomon composer & piano Eileen Hutchins piano Katherine Winterstein violin Scott Woolweaver viola Patrick Owen cello OVERVIEW Navona Records proudly presents renowned composer Ruth Lomon’s SHADOWING, her debut album on the label. The release showcases her remarkable skill in writing for the piano, pushing the instrument’s timbre and color to its limits to create animated sound worlds such as those of the title work, Shadowing. Lomon writes of the colors in the piece: “’Shadowing’ means to have such a light touch, such a light tread, that one can move freely through the forest, observing without being observed… It is the equivalent of manifesting and then becoming like smoke, and then manifesting again…” Lomon incorporates more radical colors—such as prepared piano—in Five Ceremonial Masks, which is inspired by masks used by the Navajo people in their Yeibichai Night Chant ceremonies. Native American imagery also appears in the second movement of Esquisses, “La Fête,” in which the rhythmic and melodic properties of the music are inspired by the Turtle Dance as seen by Lomon at New Mexico’s Taos Pueblo. The first movement of Esquisses, “Les Cloches,” incorporates overtone partials and change-ringing patterns of European flared tower bells, creating a distinctive pianistic color, culminating in the introspective, balladic “Memoires de…” to conclude the piece. The album is completed with the recent The Sunflower Variations, a theme and 10 variations for solo piano. The colorful piece takes its theme from “The Sunflower,” a song for contralto and viola from Lomon’s earlier Five Songs after Poems by William Blake. Purchase now at: http://www.classicalsavings.com/store/p346/Shadowing.html TRACK LISTING 01 SUNFLOWER VARIATIONS Eileen Hutchins piano SHADOWING PIANO QUARTET Eileen Hutchins piano Katherine Winterstein violin Scott Woolweaver viola Patrick Owen cello 02 I. Canto Hondo, Deep Song 03 II. Los Angelos Timidos, The Shyest Angels 04 III. Running with the Wolves ESQUISSES Eileen Hutchins piano 05 I. Les Cloches, The Bells 06 II. La Fête, The Holiday 07 III. Mémoires de…, Memories of… FIVE CEREMONIAL MASKS (not in broadcast) Eileen Hutchins piano 08 I. Changing Woman 09 II. Dancer 10 III. Spirit 11 IV. Clown 12 V. Talking Power FIVE CEREMONIAL MASKS A bonus performance by the composer, Ruth Lomon piano 13 I. Changing Woman 14 II. Dancer 15 III. Spirit 16 IV. Clown 17 V. Talking Power Purchase now at: http://www.classicalsavings.com/store/p346/Shadowing.html
