Pamela Decker: Haven-Songs of Mystery and of Memory
Pamela Decker (composer)
Composer Pamela Decker writes that "Haven: Songs of Mystery and of Memory for mezzo-soprano and piano, is a cycle of 16 songs for which all music and texts are original compositions. The cycle draws inspiration and influences from a variety of styles: Impressionism, Argentine tango; flamenco modes, South American rhythms, classical art song, jazz, pop, cabaret, and blues." Pamela Decker is Professor of Organ/Music Theory at the University of Arizona in Tucson. As both organ recitalist and composer, Decker has been active in the United States, Europe, the Baltic Region, and Canada. She has been a featured recitalist at many conventions and festivals and her compositions have been performed in 19 countries. Her discography includes recordings on the Albany Records, Loft, Gothic, ReZound, Arkay, and Arktos labels. She holds a D.M.A. degree from Stanford and studied both organ and composition as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany.
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Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Haven | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| I don't know how to do this | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| There would always be a song | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| Dawn does not bring reason to sing | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| Fire | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| I thought I was domesticated | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| Kaleidoscope | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| These eyes that see | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| Mystery | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| Returning | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| Invisible | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| Milagro | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| Sing the dark away | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| There is no lovelier thing | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| The muse in music | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
| Can you just believe? | Pamela Decker | Katherine Byrnes, mezzo-soprano; Pamela Decker, piano |
Reviews
- “
"The songs of Pamela Decker are thoroughly tonal and enjoyable, being direct and immediate in their appeal One of the loveliest of the songs is "Dawn does not bring reason to sing,"a song that has an achingly beautiful and memorable melody, at the same time sad and hopeful Singer Katherine Byrnes is known in the Tucson, Arizona area as a jazz and blues vocalist, but I hear more of a Broadway quality in her singing For each of these songs, she adapts her voice to its varying style, thereby doing an admirable job in bringing each across Her intonation is likewise impeccable, as is her phrasing and her singing falls most graciously on the ear While Pamela Decker is widely recognized as a master on the organ, her skills as a pianist are also most evident on this CD, where she brings just the right touch to the intriguing piano parts that undergird the melodies of the vocal line.
- “
"Her [Decker's] musical language is very tonal, and she is not afraid of using melody to underline ideas in her texts. Some of these songs are actually -- gasp! -- hummable, the repeated melodies haunting one long after hearing them Katherine Byrnes offers beautiful singing, infused with some jazz stylings that suit the texts well The composer herself is at the piano and this is a solid partnership
*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.