Reza Vali: The Ancient Call
Neal Berntsen (trumpet), Wendy Kallen (soprano), Ismail Lumanovski (clarinet), Khosrow Soltani (ney), Kian Soltani (kamanche), Brevard Chamber Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hoppa Project, Segâh Festival Ensemble, Keith Lockhart, Robert Black, Erberk Eryilmaz, Daniel Nesta Curtis
Iranian-American composer Reza Vali has a unique and very personal ethos in that his artistic output attempts to understand the dialogue between the ancients and the moderns. It addresses his conviction that what has been historically and artistically camouflaged can be revealed. Since 2000, Vali has been composing exclusively within the demanding palette of Persian polyphony. The works on this recording include a works for microtonal trumpet and orchestra; songs using Persian folksongs as their inspiration; a work originally written for Persian wind instruments and ensemble, scored for clarinet and ensemble here; and a work for Persian Ney, Kamanche, and orchestra. A member of the faculty at Carnegie Mellon, Vali studied in Iran, at the Academy of Music in Vienna, and the University of Pittsburgh. The recipient of numerous awards and commissions, his music has been performed by some of the most notable orchestras and ensembles in the United States, including the Seattle Symphony, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Da Capo Chamber Players, and the Kronos Quartet, among many others. This is his fourth recording for Albany Records.
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Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| The Ancient Call (Calligraphy No. 13) | Reza Vali | Neal Berntsen, microtonal trumpet; Brevard Chamber Orchestra; Keith Lockhart, conductor |
| Persian Folk Songs (Set No. 7) | Reza Vali | Wendy Kallen, soprano; Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra; Robert Black, conductor |
| Sornâ (Folk Songs, Set No. 17) | Reza Vali | Ismail Lurnanovski, clarinet; Hoppa Project; Erberk Eryilmaz, conductor |
| Segâh, Double Concerto for Persian Ney, Kamanche, and Orchestra | Reza Vali | Khosrow Soltani, Persian ney; Kian Soltani, kamance; Segâh Festival Ensemble; Daniel Nesta Curtis, conductor |
Reviews
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"Vali is deeply musical, and his work suggests an admirable and seductive flow; it often feels like a stream of melody that one embarks upon for the voyage of each piece this is another winning entry from this composer, whose cross-cultural project strikes me as deep, substantial, and expressive."
- “
"It is staggering that three out of four performances are live, given the sheer standard of both performance and recording. The sheer presence of the soloists in the final item, Sagâh, is almost shockingly good. Vali's voice is individual and poignant; far from demeaning either of the cultures he works with, both become stronger, enriched."
*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.