When people say they love music that is “sincere”, it is very likely that they are talking about the sort of thing that Errollyn Wallen writes. Her solo disc is full of tunes, catchy rhythmic ideas, and a notion that “everything” is music. This is a composer who has a distinctly personal voice–uncluttered with artificial “hipness” or academic agendas–and a powerful voice it is.
The disc opens with Dervish, a moody piece for cello and piano that’s warmly executed by Matthew Sharp and Dominic Harlan. They take the music seriously, tapping its many moods with sophistication and flowing ease. The cycle of five songs for soprano and string quartet, titled Are You Worried about the Rising Cost of Funerals?, with poems by the composer, runs the gamut of influences from traditional African to Michael Nyman, and it’s a sharp, tuneful, well-heard piece. Soprano Patricia Rozario assays her challenging part effortlessly.
Less successful is the piece for toy piano titled Louis’ Loops, though it’s wonderfully executed by Margaret Leng Tan (who Wallen calls “New York’s Kinky Dinky Diva”). It has nice sections, especially the incorporated baroque dances, but it’s simply too busy for the instrument. The same is true of the disc’s final opus, which leans a little too heavily on a gag: the whole thing swirls to a quotation of the song “Girl from Ipanema”–cute but not enough payoff, despite the interesting piano textures Wallen creates.
Horseplay, a multi-movement work for ensemble, is the disc’s high point. It is an energetic, ebullient flight of fancy, wonderfully scored. Philip Headlam conducts the Continuum Ensemble with precision but also with perfect willingness to be a little rough around the edges when necessary. In Our Lifetime, a piece for baritone and tape, is a tribute to Nelson Mandela that beautifully and skillfully incorporates some South African music. This is the sort of release that a young composer dreams about–a thoughtful sample of her work, well recorded and performed, and attractively packaged.
