Through the Mist
Pamela J. Marshall composer
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players, Susan Jackson, Duo “2”, Addington-Barringer Duo, Jennifer Slowik, Kevin Owen, Karolina Rojahn
The rush and restlessness of our daily lives can be like a fog, an opaque shroud that can distract from the enlightening experiences of nature. On her debut Ravello Records album THROUGH THE MIST, composer Pamela J. Marshall presents several works that find their origins in the composer’s experiences with the natural world.
The title track references Marshall’s trips to a lake in New Hampshire, evoking the imagery of the stillness of morning, waves knocking on the rocky shore, and the sunset’s glorious colors spreading across the horizon. Communing with Birds is a rhapsodic response to the chorus of birds one hears while in a tropical rainforest, while the musical motives of Waves and Fountains depict cascading water. In Zoa, for multiple flutes and harp, Marshall applies extended techniques to illustrate an otherworldly and primordial landscape representing what the composer calls “imagined music of elemental creatures.” Dance of the Hoodoos gives life to the ghostly rock figures of Yellowstone National Park, inviting the listeners to a syncopated and primitive dance.
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Artist Information
Pamela Marshall
Composer Pamela J. Marshall (b.1954) writes chamber, orchestral, choral, and electronic music. Nature and environmental themes run through Marshall's music. There are influences of Bartok, Messiaen, jazz, and American songs from the 1800s. Clever twists, humor, beautiful melody, and wild noise sometimes occur. She loves obscure American folk music, bird songs, and any kitchen object that makes an interesting noise.
Karolina Rojahn
Karolina Rojahn is a Los Angeles based pianist who has dedicated the last decade of her career to premiering and recording contemporary music repertoire. She has premiered over a hundred new works and collaborated with various classical music labels, most notably Naxos, having released over 43 recordings of chamber and solo piano music, including 5 piano concertos written specifically for her.