Jennie Oh Brown: CD Review
Nov 2, 2015 by The Flute View
Jennie Oh Brown has just released a new CD, “Looking Back” of several flute pieces by composer Joseph Schwantner. The album includes: Black Anemones (1991), Looking Back (2009), the piece commissioned by a consortium of students of Samuel Baron (myself included) in his memory, Soaring (1986) written for Carol Wincenc and Silver Halo (2007) written for the 25th anniversary of the flute quartet, Flute Force. Schwantner who has a special affinity for the flute recently wrote “ the flute’s virtuosic and expressive possibilities have long captured my imagination providing potent stimulus for many of my musical idea’s.” This collection gives us a clear understanding of the breadth of his writing for flute and of his imaginative use of flute colors, technique and expression. I especially enjoyed the recording of “Silver Halo”, for flute quartet in which Schwantner displays his true mastery as a composer for flute…and all instruments!
Brown plays Schwantner with firm technique and clear soaring sound. She understands the music and plays with conviction and joy! The album is recorded on the Innova label, the label of the American Composer’s Forum. Dr. Brown is an Innova recording artist, and teaches at Wheaton College and Elmhurst College
www.JennieBrownFlute.com, www.innova.mu
–Barbara Siesel
