| Karen Bentley has
offered a brilliant recording of solo violin music to discerning music
listeners. This is truly One on One on One Concertizing as she plays solo
pieces with her instruments giving you the feeling that she is performing
"just for you." This is a woman who loves her instruments and Guess What, "She knows how to use them." The listener is offered a sumptuous feast of music that touches both old and new dance idioms found in the two solo works. Ole Pullar Saxe has created a delightful work of six movements that portray established world dance forms that have evolved into today's socially diverse dance music circles. Karen handles these so well that you can almost picture her dancing to these pieces. As the feast continues we are transported back to 1720 and into one of J. S. Bach's solo violin works, "Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004" which was written during Bach's Kothen period, a time when he wrote his most famous chamber music works. The Suite derives its themes from the popular dance forms found in the 17th and 18th centuries. Karen breathes life into these five dances to create a masterful blend of music that bonds the 18th century to the current new millennium giving us a time mirror into the essence of the dance; both then and now. As with all feasts we come to the dessert that completes the whole experience of this sonic banquet. Karen plays an authentic Norwegian folk tune on her Hardanger fiddle, "Fanitullen" in a setting by Odd Bakkerud. Sumptuous sound fills you with delight and you'll be craving for more, more! It doesn't often get better than this, but don't just take my word. Go partake of the feast for yourself and you'll be fulfilled. I give this CD the top most rating for both performance and concept from a brilliant young virtuoso performer who is headed for great musical destinies. |
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William Ashley Cooper, October 23, 2002 |
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