Lemons Descending

Editorial Reviews
Advocate Newspapers, December 21, 2000
Lemons Descending is meant to be looked at, touched, listened to. This collector's item deserves savoring.

The Seattle Times, July 14, 2002
Clark's clear, eloquent voice is a great partner for the flexible and lyrical cello of Haimovitz...well worth a listen.

Album Description
In this album, the common thread of voice and cello conjures a contemporary musical world rooted in the traditions of a millennium. Soprano Eileen Clark and cellist Matt Haimovitz perform the recital ranging from an Hildegard Von Bingen arrangement to John Tavener's "Ahkmatova Songs", from a first recording of Luna Pearl Woolf's "Epithalamion" to Heitor Villa-Lobos' beloved "Bachianas Brasileirsas No. 5" in which Haimovitz has overlaid all the parts in the eight-cello orchestra. Also included in this chant-infused collection is original improvisation on Pablo Neruda's eponymous poem, "Ode to the Lemon." The album features original artwork in a striking multi-panel eco-friendly package with accompanying booklet of the poetry.

The breadth and beauty of the poetry set in these pieces inspired a fine-art book entitled Lemons Descending: Music, Poetry, Etchings, from Oxingale Press. With this recording as its seed and poetry letterpress printed on hand-made paper, the book features the etchings of Michael Kuch, whose interpretations create a visual counterpoint to the compositions. The limited edition book may be viewed at the Library of Congress, Yale University, Stanford University, and other libraries around the world.

Lemons Descending

Tracks:

Hildegard von Bingen: Slice for Saint Ursula
Heitor Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Braileiras No. 5: Aria
Heitor Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Braileiras No. 5: Dansa
John Tavener: Akhmatova Songs: Dante
John Tavener: Akhmatova Songs: Pushkin & Lermontov
John Tavener: Akhmatova Songs: Boris Pasternak
John Tavener: Akhmatova Songs: Couplet
John Tavener: Akhmatova Songs: The Muse
John Tavener: Akhmatova Songs: Death
William Sydeman: Three Songs After Emily Dickinson: I heard...
William Sydeman: Three Songs After Emily Dickinson: I taste...
William Sydeman: Three Songs After Emily Dickinson: Hope...
Luna Pearl Woolf: Epithalamion
John Tavener: The Child Lived
Neruda / Clark / Haimovitz: Ode to the Lemon
Hildegard von Bingen: Slice for Saint Ursula

Album Description

In this album, the common thread of voice and cello conjures a contemporary musical world rooted in the traditions of a millennium. Soprano Eileen Clark and cellist Matt Haimovitz perform the recital ranging from an Hildegard Von Bingen arrangement to John Tavener's "Ahkmatova Songs", from a first recording of Luna Pearl Woolf's "Epithalamion" to Heitor Villa-Lobos' beloved "Bachianas Brasileirsas No. 5" in which Haimovitz has overlaid all the parts in the eight-cello orchestra. Also included in this chant-infused collection is original improvisation on Pablo Neruda's eponymous poem, "Ode to the Lemon." The album features original artwork in a striking multi-panel eco-friendly package with accompanying booklet of the poetry.

Customer Reviews:

fantastic!!.......2007-01-07

This disc has just grown and grown on me! A superb collection of rarely heard repertoire with some wonderful ideas and interpretations. Most inspiring!