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Music and Beyond 2012

The last 12 days have been an enjoyable musical experience. If anything I'd say that this year's concerts were even better than 2011. My highlight of the festival definitely goes to the four-part cycle The Rivered Earth created by Vikram Seth and Alec Roth. It's always good to hear new and different works alongside more 'regular' repertoire, and these four works were stupendous: Songs in Time of War; Shared Ground/Ponticelli; The Traveller; and The Seven Elements/The Hermit on the Ice. The first two are available as recordings on the Signum label. They are predominantly vocal-led works, but varying between small and large choirs and tenor solo; the accompaniment from violin, harp, guitar, small string ensemble and piano. The solo violin suite Ponticelli and violin/piano suite The Seven Elements are amazing. Ponticelli is available on CD or download and would appeal to lovers of Ólafur Arnalds or Amiina. 

In other concerts, Menahem Pressler was wonderful as always, but the thematic concerts seemed to stand out: an evening of music and dance; Inspired by Music, an event with new artworks created to match specific pieces of music; and an afternoon of Jewish Composers Through the Ages.

Photos are available here. Next?! I am hoping to attend some of the free concerts at Ottawa Chamberfest...  

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