In A Circle Records presents a solo debut from Brooklyn Rider and Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble violist Nicholas Cords

Have you ever observed the seemingly infinite reflections of yourself when standing between two parallel mirrors? This phenomenon of self-similar repetition is an example of recursion, which can be observed in nature and also has broad applications in the sciences. Seeing connections to the discipline of playing the viola and its repertoire, I was inspired to use the concept of recursion as a guiding metaphor for this project.
Identifying pieces which thrive on the self-similar repetition of musical cells was one of the unifying principles behind the choice of repertoire on this recording. These works exemplify the special quality of the viola's sound world, highlighting the inimitable characteristics of it's dulcet and melancholic voice. But at the same time, they demonstrate that the viola is a mutable instrument, capable of a broad palette of expression. Recurring throughout this recording is also a sense of journey, real or imagined. Pórt Na BPúcaí conjures a fairies' lament originating from the Blasket Islands off the West coast of Ireland, Chahagir (torchbearer in Armenian) sends us on a spiritual trek to Armenia, and Rubbra's Meditations travel across time to the Byzantine era. And going beyond a sense of physical place, all of these works vitally engage the imagination as a vehicle to transcend the everyday. Stravinsky's ephemeral Élégie for solo viola brilliantly succeeds in creating a transportive listening experience. Recursions begins and ends with passacaglias by two great composer-performers. Biber was a gifted violinist and this passacaglia represents possibly the greatest solo violin work before Bach. Hindemith, primarily remembered today as a composer, was also a leading violist of his day whose legacy of works for the viola have been lovingly embraced by subsequent generations. Their examples, along with others, have inspired me to throw my own hat into the ring with Five Migrations.

Track Listing

• Passacaglia (postlude to the Rosary Sonatas, 1676)
• Pórt Na BPúcai
• 3. Meditations on a Byzantine Hymn 'O Quando E Cruce,' Op. 117 (1964)
• Chahagir, Op. 56a (1945)
• Five Migrations - Timegate (2012)
• Five Migrations - Stilted Reverie (2012)
• Five Migrations - Anachronism (2012)
• Five Migrations - Labirynth (2012)
• Five Migrations - Landing (2012)
• Élégie (1944)
• Sonata for Solo Viola, Op. 11, #5 Lebhaft, aber nicht geeilt (1923)
• Sonata for Solo Viola, Op. 11, #5 Mäßig schnell, mit viel Wärme vortragen (1923)
• Sonata for Solo Viola, Op. 11, #5 Schnell. Viel langsamer, gesangvoll (1923)
• Sonata for Solo Viola, Op. 11, #5 In Form und Zeitmass einer Passacaglia (1923)

Additional Details

Label: In A Circle

Genre: Classical

Run Time: 63:04 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 03/12/13

UPC: 707541559195