Lera Auerbach – 24 Preludes for Violin and Piano (2003)

Obviously, Lera Auerbach is fascinated by the lowest octaves of the keyboard. With her foot firmly on the pedal, she has the low keys linger on forever, as if she’s contemplating the fulness of their sound. She strikes a chord, we hear it crescend to its peak, and then it slowly dies…only to give way to another blast. This goes on; one low-key chord after another slowly passes by, and from this slightly disturbing undercurrent of dark, flowing notes, silvery fishes will escape, dissolving into the higher registers as if trying to reach the surface of a pond. It has all the mystery and dubious spell of an opium dream.

We are softly persuaded to step into that calm and deep mass of water. Dip your toes ever so carefully, dear listeners, get used to the temperature and next, try a refreshing bath; envelop yourselves in the intense, dream-like beauty of underwater-life…..but beware! All of a sudden, a surge of angry dissonances will dive for your toes like a school of piranhas. Brutal aggression all around, the dark and smooth surface of the little lake has most treacherously turned into a scene of sheer violence.
As far as I know it now, such is the music of Auerbach. It lulls you to sleep, only to devour you the next minute.
Comparisons to composers like Messiaen, or late Liszt have been made to describe her music. Forget about that, she has a voice of her own. Stick with the metaphor above.

I didn’t know Auerbach until recently. She seems to be a remarkable double-talent, already publishing poetry and stories at a very early age. She has received awards for both her musical and her literary art. Of course I tried to find some of her poems, using avax’s e-book search engine and applying all my google skills – in vain, so far. Perhaps our Russian friends know where I might friend a translation of her works.
In the meantime, enjoy the aforelying preludes. I have another one in store.



Performers:

Vadim Gluzman – violin
Angela Yoffe – piano

Tracks:

01. No. 1 in C major. Adagio [0:04:39.41]
02. No. 2 in A minor. Anante (Tempo di valez) [0:01:40.34]
03. No. 3 in G major. Andantino misterioso [0:02:09.72]
04. No. 4 in E minor. Allegro [0:00:53.74]
05. No. 5 in B minor. Allegro marcato [0:02:14.10]
06. No. 6 in B minor. Allegro marcato [0:03:44.04]
07. No. 7 in A major. Allegro moderato [0:00:54.22]
08. No. 8 in F sharp minor. Andante [0:03:05.47]
09. No. 9 in E major. Allegro [0:00:58.58]
10. No. 10 in C sharp minor. Allegro [0:01:23.27]
11. No. 11 in B major. Allegretto [0:02:03.14]
12. No. 12 in G sharp minor. Adagio [0:02:14.24]
13. No. 13 in F sharp major. Allegro moderato [0:02:03.14]
14. No. 14 in E flat minor. Presto [0:01:43.39]
15. No. 15 in C sharp major. Adagio sognando [0:01:33.69]
16. No. 16 in B flat minor. Misterioso [0:03:28.27]
17. No. 17 in A flat major. Vivo [0:02:00.32]
18. No. 18 in F minor. Agitato [0:04:31.37]
19. No. 19 in E flat major. Moderato [0:02:57.31]
20. No. 20 in C minor. Tragico [0:03:07.24]
21. No. 21 in B flat major. Andante [0:02:06.47]
22. No. 22 in G minor. Moderato serioso [0:01:54.38]
23. No. 23 in F major. Andante [0:02:08.07]
24. No. 24 in D minor. Presto [0:05:48.66]
25. T'filah (Prayer) [0:05:17.65]
26. Postlude [0:03:21.05]