The almond tree duos
Melia Watras
Planet M Records PMR-007 (planetmrecords.bandcamp.com/album/melia-watras-the-almond-tree-duos)
Listen
Cirque à cordes - Listen on Spotify
Dear Nightingale - Listen on Spotify
The almond tree 3 - Listen on Spotify
Read the Review
The almond tree duos is the world premiere recording of a work from 2019-2021 by violist and composer Melia Watras comprising 18 brief pieces for violin and viola. The violin duties are shared by baroque violinist Tekla Cunningham and violinists Rachel Lee Priday and Michael Jinsoo Lim (Planet M Records PMR-007 planetmrecords.bandcamp.com/album/melia-watras-the-almond-tree-duos).
The work can be performed in several ways, from stand-alone pieces through various combinations to a complete set; if the latter, the order should be as recorded here.
Watras encourages experimenting with combinations of modern violin and viola with baroque violin and viola. The end result here is a fascinating soundscape, the three violinists providing a variety of techniques, tonal colours and nuances to supplement Watras’ playing.
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