MusicWeb International One of the most grown-up review sites around 2023
Approaching 60,000 reviews
and more.. and still writing ...

Search MusicWeb Here Acte Prealable Polish CDs
 

Presto Music CD retailer
 
Founder: Len Mullenger                                    Editor in Chief:John Quinn             


CD REVIEW

Some items
to consider

new MWI
Current reviews

old MWI
pre-2023 reviews

paid for
advertisements

Acte Prealable Polish recordings

Forgotten Recordings
Forgotten Recordings
All Forgotten Records Reviews

TROUBADISC
Troubadisc Weinberg- TROCD01450

All Troubadisc reviews


FOGHORN Classics

Alexandra-Quartet
Brahms String Quartets

All Foghorn Reviews


All HDTT reviews


Songs to Harp from
the Old and New World


all Nimbus reviews



all tudor reviews


Follow us on Twitter


Editorial Board
MusicWeb International
Founding Editor
   
Rob Barnett
Editor in Chief
John Quinn
Contributing Editor
Ralph Moore
Webmaster
   David Barker
Postmaster
Jonathan Woolf
MusicWeb Founder
   Len Mullenger


alternatively AmazonUS

H.E. PIETSCH
The Profound Effect of One (2005)
(I. From Nowhere [3:49]; II. Revelation [5:16]; III. The Uncertainty Principle [6:21])
Ralph Morrison (violin); Richard Altenbach (violin); Simon Oswell (viola); Andrew Shulman (cello)/H.E. Pietsch
rec. 2 June 2005, Todd AO Studios, Studio City, CA
Reflets Dans La Sainte Chapelle (2005) [16:55]
Wally Snow (vibraphone); M.B. Gordy (percussion)/Brent McMunn
rec. 2 June 2005, Todd AO Studios, Studio City, CA
The Profound Effect of One (arr. for two pianos, four hands) (2005)
(I. From Nowhere [3:39]; II. Revelation [4:58]; III. The Uncertainty Principle [6:12])
Brent McMunn (piano); Bryan Pezzone (piano)
rec. 20 December 2005, Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA. DDD
SPM 6 08793 01072 7 [47:08]



The Profound Effect of One is H.E. Pietsch's first orchestral release. It is interesting that it consists primarily of two versions of the title work with only one other piece included: an orchestral rendering of his tone poem “Reflets dans la Sainte Chapelle”. It is evident that he is banking quite a bit on the one piece.

The title work is a three movement piece that debuted in 2005. It is quite reminiscent of Philip Glass's more recent film work where the minimalism is tempered with neo-romantic melodies. The first and third movements (titled "From Nowhere" and "The Uncertainty Principle") are flush with driving ostinatos contrasting fluid melodies that are passed around the string sections. The second movement, "Revolution", is a bit more introspective and traditional, calling to mind the late-romantic period. Even so there is still a minimalist influence with the opening cellos using a fluid repetition the same way a pop song goes to a keyboard riff. The entire thing feels very contemporary without ever being either alienating or trite. Even with the clear influences, this is an evolutionary rather than a derivative work, and may be one of the most interesting and moving 21st century works that this reviewer has encountered.

The fourth track on the CD is called "Reflets dans la Sainte Chapelle". It was written after a visit to the Parisian chapel referenced in the title. It is similar in style to the "Revolution" movement from "The Profound Effect of One", though more somber and with a slightly extended instrumentation. The use of vibraphone and orchestral percussion adds to the overall ambience. The work feels as if it is ever evolving and flowing. It has a touch of Smetana or Liszt in the orchestration, but again with the American minimalist influences in every thematic recapitulation. When, halfway through the piece, the melody is taken by the vibraphone the listener cannot help but stop for a moment to revel in the simplistic beauty of the moment. This is a work by a composer of great promise well able to hold a listener's attention throughout the major work.

The piano reductions that follow are written for four hands and are interesting in that they showcase the composition in a more stark way. As I listened I was struck by how solid, compositionally speaking, these pieces are. At the same time however they are noticeably less emotive, especially in the second movement. While the piano is well used for the percussive aspects and rapid runs, the soaring melodies are simply better rendered on strings. In essence there is nothing "wrong" per se with the piano reductions, but if these were the only way that these three movements were heard then only "The Uncertainty Principle" would stand out as anything special.

Considered as a whole though, this is one of the most solid recent compilations of music by a young composer. The orchestral portions of this album could not be more highly recommended.
 
Patrick Gary
 



 


Advertising on
Musicweb


Donate and keep us afloat

 

New Releases

Naxos Classical
All Naxos reviews

Hyperion recordings
All Hyperion reviews

Foghorn recordings
All Foghorn reviews

Troubadisc recordings
All Troubadisc reviews



all Bridge reviews


all cpo reviews

Divine Art recordings
Click to see New Releases
Get 10% off using code musicweb10
All Divine Art reviews


All Eloquence reviews

Lyrita recordings
All Lyrita Reviews

 

Wyastone New Releases
Obtain 10% discount

Subscribe to our free weekly review listing

 

 

Return to Review Index

Untitled Document


Reviews from previous months
Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details
We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board
Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer.