Credits:

Engegard Quartet / Mustonen, Olli

Description:

Featured Harpist Ramsey, Vol. 2! Partita No. 2 for harp solo and "The Street," a musical picture scroll depicting the last days of ChristThe Choir of King's College's new release is the second album by harpist Parker Ramsey, a graduate of the college. It is "The Street," composed by acclaimed composer Nico Mouly with a libretto by Alice Goodman. Following the fourteen "steps" of Christ's journey to the crucifixion (fourteen scenes representing the time from the pronouncement of the crucifixion to his death on the cross), the last days of Christ are told with sublime beauty in three elements: harp solo, narrative, and chant. Also included is a version for harp solo. Another notable feature of this disc is the inclusion of "Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826" for keyboard, as this is the second release by Ramsey, who attracted worldwide attention with his harp performance of the Golteberg Variations (KGS.0049). The sinfonia of Partita No. 2 opens with the rhythm of a French overture, which can be said to represent the "King's Entry," or Christ's entry into Jerusalem, and it is a truly appropriate choice as an introduction to "The Street".The recording is also notable for its wonderful use of the chapel's uniquely rich reverberation. =Parker Ramsey was the first American to become an Organ Scholar at King's College (2010-2013). He completed his studies in historical keyboard instruments at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in the United States. He studied at the Juilliard School, where he studied with Isabelle Perrin and Sivan Margen (New York Philharmonic player). He plays both contemporary and ancient harp. Organ scholars at King's are required to perform in worship and occasionally conduct the choir, all of which Ramsey excels at, and he has participated in six world tours and four recordings. He has performed at the Concertgebouw, the Royal Albert Hall, and other world-class venues, and has premiered many new works. =Nico Murie = American composer, born in 1981. He studied English literature at Columbia University and composition at the Juilliard School. His work ranges from orchestral works to music for plays and films, and he has performed internationally from stage to orchestra to broadcast, including "Marnie" (based on Hitchcock's film of the same name), which was performed at the MET in 2018, and the international co-production drama "Child of the Sun," which will be broadcast in 2020. = Alice Goodman (script) = Born in Minnesota in 1958. Studied at Harvard and Cambridge Universities.In 1985, he was commissioned by Peter Sellers to write the script for John Adams' opera "Nixon in China". He has since worked on scripts for various productions. He has served as superintendent of three school districts in Cambridgeshire. King International.

Tracklisting:

1.Partita No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 826~Sinfonia
2.Partita No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 826~Allemande
3.Partita No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 826~Courante
4.Partita No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 826~Sarabande
5.Partita No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 826~Rondeau
6.Partita No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 826~Capriccio
7.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station I: Jesus Is Condemned to Death
8.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station II: Jesus Takes Up His Cross
9.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station III: Jesus Falls for the First Time
10.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station IV: Jesus Meets His Mother
11.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station V: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
12.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station VI: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
13.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station VII: Jesus Falls for the Second Time
14.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station VIII: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
15.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station IX: Jesus Falls for the Third Time
16.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station X: Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments
17.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station XI: Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
18.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station XII: Jesus Dies on the Cross
19.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station XIII: Jesus Is Taken Down From the Cross
20.The Street (Harp Solo)~Station XIV: Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb