Album Review: Storyteller
Trumpeter Mary Elizabeth Bowden joins the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
Bringing in a guest artist and playing music by living composers is once again a winning formula for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Their previous album featured Anthony and Demarre McGill to great success. And this time artist Mary Elizabeth Bowden works right alongside the ensemble’s strengths.
Several of these works are in newly orchestrated versions, including the title track. It’s no surprise that a Chicago orchestra would be the one to premiere the full version of a work written for Bud Herseth - a local legend after 5 decades in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Storyteller is about Herseth himself, with quotes of some of the solos that he relished in his career being quoted throughout. The piece is somewhat cinematic, where its counterpart Scram!, which bookends the album, is essentially cartoonish in the best way.
The visual art of Gertrude Abercrombie inspired Clarice Assad’s contribution to the album, Bohemian Queen. In addition to being a visual artist, Abercrombie, who was a white woman, was no stranger to the midcentury jazz scene - frequently sitting in on piano with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sara Vaughan. This is reflected in her work, with her most famous painting, also one of the movements of Bohemian Queen, being Hyde Park Jam. But Girl Searching and The Stroll reflect the “storyteller” theme of the album equally well.
Vivian Fung’s trumpet concerto likewise tells a story - that of the soloist herself. Specifically the challenges a woman faces entering a male dominated field. At times the piece feels like it’s banging on a door, or possibly a glass ceiling. The music often feels like it is deliberately contained and even constrained. Short bursts of melody, all portrayed with vigor. A feeling that women can surely understand as we constantly face having to “break through” to be seen and heard.
Sarah Kirkland Snider’s Caritas does indeed portray a woman who “broke through” in her own inimitable way. The composer began with source material from Hildegard of Bingen, with the title coming from Bingen’s depiction of the Female Divine. Originally for voice, it is reset here with both trumpet and flugelhorn, featuring David Dash who joins Bowden on trumpet throughout the album.
The other visually inspired work is Veiled Light by Tyson Gholston Davis. It brings the painting’s eeriness to life.
Reena Esmail brings Neruda poetry alongside the raag Puriya Dhanashree in Rosa de Sal. The gentle work is titled for Neruda’s first line, but better portrayed by a later one from the same poem:
I love you as one loves certain obscure things,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
It’s a remarkable thing to have a youth orchestra take on quite this much new music. None of these pieces would be easy to play for even professionals. As such the collection is an entirely impressive feat. And Bowden is as bright and clear as ever. With her previous album being all transcriptions, these chance-taking works are a perfect compliment in her collection.
It’s not an easy listen - this album is not background music. Rather, its intense moments and broad range of musical voices will grab your attention.
Today is Juneteenth - an excellent day to reflect, and also to celebrate the artistry of Black musicians.
Rather than my words, take in these from pianist Lara Downes.
WUOL Classical Louisville will air my friend Kiana Del’s Juneteenth special A Call to Freedom tonight at 10ET.
WQXR in NYC is airing music by Black composers all day.
Classical KUSC is airing Let Freedom Ring, hosted by Lara Downes, at 8pm PT.
I also found notes about special programming on WXXI, WHRO, WKAR, and YourClassical.