October 13, 2023 New Releases from Navona and Big Round Records

Québécoise violinist Noémy Gagnon-Lafrenais, viola da gambist Margaret Little, and keyboardist Christophe Gauthier form Ensemble Spinoza to celebrate the seminal work of 17th-century composer Dietrich Buxtehude on BUXTEHUDE. The ensemble gives a thoughtful and heartfelt reading of each of the composer’s beautiful sonatas in this collection.

Randy Bauer’s DIS/ENTANGLEMENTS features two large-scale piano works written during pandemic-era isolation that explore the tumultuous emotions associated with the times. Bauer’s works are deftly performed by pianist Clipper Erickson, who navigates moments of stark tension, reassuring lyricism, and triumphant redemption.

Reed Chamberlin’s AVE MARIS STELLA is a rare 21st-century recasting of beloved motets and secular works from the 14th and 16th centuries. Works by du Fay, Gabrieli, de Machaut, and more are reimagined through a double lens — the time-held tradition of setting renaissance work for wind bands, and, especially to the genre, the addition of post-production audio effects.

Multi-genre composer Gary Smart explores a wide range of styles and transforms them into his own musical language on COLUMBIAN HARMONY. His soundscapes are sweeping, billowing meadows, often vast in their ambition and scope, meandering between grand rhapsody and heart rending simplicity.

What happens when you fuse the power of Beethoven, the raw emotion of Janáček, and the exoticism of Frucht with a beautifully exuberant string ensemble? The Ulysses Quartet gives a definitive answer on SHADES OF ROMANI FOLKLORE, an album exploring the rich and vibrant tradition of Romani music.

Avner Finberg, Avishay Shalom, and Ohad Stolarz decorate the choral scene in WHEELS OF HEAVEN, a new setting of sacred Hebrew and Aramaic texts admirably performed and recorded by Ensemble Ofanìm. These artists have composed, arranged, and presented a beautiful collection of a vast literary tradition in this release, and the resulting sound is remarkable.

Composed by Phil Scarff and performed by world-jazz ensemble Natraj, RAGAMALA PAINTINGS ALIVE! shines a contemporary light on historic artwork from India. Natraj brings a wealth of experience exploring the intersection of jazz and global musical traditions. Their stunning performance is wide ranging, deep, and accessible, while firmly rooted in the rich tapestry of Indian classical music.