A thorough new review from MusicWeb International‘s Brian Reinhart for the latest Delos release of music by Sean Hickey:
This is music of little compromise and much scholarship. Cursive is a long-form piano piece which Hickey rightly compares to Messiaen; the piece has a long dramatic arc which contains moments of respite that recall Messiaen’s notations of birdsong. … Ampersand has a more lyrical bent, Julia Sakharova’s violin given melodies which recall the catchy yet uneasy tunes of Prokofiev. … Bear in mind that I’m not comparing this music to past composers to denigrate it or call it unoriginal; I’m doing it to give you an idea of what to expect. Sean Hickey has his own voice, and although it sometimes scolds, it’s a deep and rich voice. Dolmen is a haunting nocturne with full rich, chords, meant to evoke ancient Celtic mysteries. It is justly one of Hickey’s most performed works. Were I a pianist, I would want to learn it. … Delos’s sound is consistently close but resonant. Philip Edward Fisher does heroic work as the star of the album, and the guest stars are good too, especially violinist Sakharova. The composer’s own liner-notes are thankfully approachable and easy to read. …[a] rounded picture of a composer with diverse ideas, interests and influences.” —Brian Reinhart, MusicWeb International
Read the full review on www.musicweb-international.com
Buy From Delos Today! Liner Notes
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