Search - Sahan Arzruni :: Childhood Memories: Music for Younger Pianists

A JOYOUS EXPERIENCE

NEDDA CASEI | 01/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I AM TOTALLY ENCHANTED BY THIS RECENT CD "CHILDHOOD MEMORIES" OF SAHAN ARZRUNI. EACH SHORT PIECE AND THOUGHT CREATES AN EXTRAORDINARY WHOLE. I AM BEGUILED BY THE RENDITIONS OF AMY BEACH, A DELIGHTFUL BEGINNING WITH HER VIVID "CARNIVAL". THEN CAUGHT BY THE MYSTERY OF ROBERT STARER'S "PURPLE" FROM THE SET I PARTICULARLY ADMIRE. THE FUN OF "BRIGHT ORANGE", THE GENTLENESS OF "GREY", THE PRETTINESS OF "PINK",THE EXCITEMENT OF "CRIMSON", THE SURPRISE OF "MAROON",THE EDGE IN "ALUMINUM",THE GLINTS OF SHINE IN "SILVER AND GOLD", THE ZIP OF "KHAKI", THE DASHING VIVIDNESS OF"CHROME YELLOW". THEN COMES THE INTELLECTUAL FRENCHNESS OF NED ROREM.(ESPECIALLY LIKED "A NEW GAME" AND "A TRICK") I FIND DIANNE RAHBEE A SHEER DELIGHT, AND ALSO WILLIAM MAYER ... ESPECIALLY THE DELICIOUSNESS OF "BIRDCAGE" AND ALL HIS MANUSCRIPTS LEADING TO "SUBWAY INTO THE SUNSHINE". MIRIAM GIDEON, SO BRIGHT AND CLEVER, YET SO MUSICALLY EXPRESSIVE IN THE HANDS OF SAHAN ARZRUNI. "HESITATING SECONDS", "SLIDING THROUGH THIRDS" WITH ARZRUNI'S DELICATENESS OF TOUCH ARE MAGICAL. LOUISE TALMA'S UNIQUELY BEAUTIFUL "DUCK DUET", THE HIGH SPIRITS OF "FOLLOW THE LEADER" AND "SKIPPING"-- ALMOST BACH-LIKE IN DESIGN, "THE ROBIN" (WITH MORE ENERGY THAN MY VERY FAT LOCAL ROBIN) AND ALL THE ENTICING SNATCHES OF THOUGHT SHE HAS CREATED THROUGH SAHAN ARZRUNI. "PITTER PATTER", "A HEAVY LOAD","WHIRLING PINWHEELS"-(SO DELECTABLY LIQUID),"THE CLOCK" COME QUICKLY TO MIND. THEY ARE ALL SPECIAL IN THEIR OWN INDIVIDUALITY. "CIRCLES", "TWO BY TWO","SOUNDSHOTS" ARE A PERFECT MATING OF COMPOSER AND PERFORMER. THERE ARE NO TECHNICAL LIMITS. IT IS A JOYOUS EXPERIENCE TO HEAR SO MUCH DELIGHTFUL, PLEASURE-GIVING "NEW" MUSIC, PLAYED EXQUISITELY AND MOVINGLY BY SUCH A PROFICIENT ARTIST AS SAHAN ARZRUNI. HE HAS INDEED, CAPTIVATINGLY, "DISTILLED" THE ESSENCE OF CHILDHOOD."

Lovely company when you're alone & great with guests!

Jacqueline Knapp | New York, New York United States | 02/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have had the most interesting experiences with Sahan Arzruni's "Childhood Memories!" One evening I put it on while cooking in the kitchen. As it played, I heard a refrain from the living room that was so enchanting, I had to abandon my cooking and just be with the music. Then I'd go back to cooking and another piece would call to me! All the pieces seemed to tell their own special story: a cat and mouse theme with a wonderful chase; a more ponderous piece with accents of splashing light; a "bluesy" feel with a saucy tale; and sometimes the pieces felt improvised, so in the moment was Arzruni.
Another evening I had it on with guests gathered, and Arzruni's music became the perfect background for the conversation, adding some remarkable accents and details, delighting all! Lovely company when you're alone, and great with guests!!
"Childhood Memories" is a good title as it has a way of innocently creeping in and taking hold. Calling to times past, and eager, energized, open. He subtitles it "Music for Younger Pianists," of which I'm neither, so I encourage all others not to hesitate!"