Concert Review: Low Key Chamber Concert #10

Concert Review:
Low Key Chamber Concert #10
Keve Wilson-oboe, Rachel Handman-violin.
Featuring Robert C. Ford Poet

@ The Sky Vault
presented by Composers Concordance
January 9,2022

     This concert was truly an eclectic experience, ranging from microtones to an instrumental cover of an influential 80’s New Wave band, to joropos from Venezuela.
     Set once again at SkyVault in lower Manhattan, host Robert C. Ford and composer Gene Pritsker officially unveiled the venue’s new theme song. With the use of Gene’s microtones, accompanying an insightful and realty based poem of Roberts, a mood at once ethereal yet contemplative has been set.
     The duo of Keve and Rachel are world citizens, as evidenced by their diverse musical influences and the selections they performed.
Starting off, their arrangement of Yaz’s 1982 “Only You” compelling portrayed this beautiful, bittersweet song. The oboe and violin more than adequately filled in for the synthesizers used by Vince Clark.
     The next 2 songs, “Dreaming of the Exotic Cafe” and “Si Beag Si Mor” showed to great effect their mastery of and affection for “world music”, the former being Lebanese inspired and the latter from an Irish harpist.
     The duo next performed a Gene Pritsker composition, 'The Voice of Perpetual Becoming', who was inspired by Herman Hesse. Technically challenging, and beautifully played by Rachel and Keve, this piece conveys the rich and varied emotional life of the late author and poet.
     Composer Cenovia Cummins, one of Keve and Rachel’s favorites, was featured again in “Rain” a piece that they interpreted with skill and heartfelt love.
     Poet Robert premiered a dada poem poking at the seeming lip service being given by big corporations to achieving net zero carbon emissions. Accompanying, with dramatic effects was Charles Coleman.
     Drawing upon a Swedish group, the duo resumed with an energetic and upbeat version of “Vänkärin Polska”, a song with folk roots.
Next the perfectly named “Deep Peace” which included a cover of Orlean’s “Dance with Me” demonstrates the fine ear that this delightful and witty duo posses.
     Turning to Venezuela, Keve and Rachel combined 2 spirited joropos, waltz’s akin to the fandango, which combine South American, European and African art forms. Once again this duo performed the song with reverence, leading the listener to a new musical experience.
     Ending the live stream portion of the the program the duo rearranged a classic by Marvin Hamlisch, “What I Did For Love” an elegant and thoughtful version that remained true to the original.

- Thomas