Almost As Soft As Silence
Christopher Whitley (solo violin, free improvisation)
Independent (christopherwhitley.bandcamp.com/album/almost-as-soft-as-silence)
Is there a perfect composition to showcase one of the finest violins in the world? Violinist Christopher Whitley was inspired to record some free expressions with his 1770 Taft Stradivarius violin (on generous loan at the time from the Canada Council Instrument Bank) for a shorter, 30-minute disc of what could best be described as love poems to the violin. Recorded in one single take, unedited, each miniature composition reflects the relationship between the violinist and his prized loan and the resonance of the St. Stephens church in Belvedere, CA. Whitley, a stunningly versatile performer with everything from classical, new music, improvisation, jazz, folk and rock in his skill set, takes a breather to play freely, thoughtfully, and authentically, allowing the instrument to sparkle unadorned. Whitley chooses to record the miniature compositions in single takes, one leading to the other almost as gestures. The title track almost as soft as silence is a mere sparkle at 15 seconds long, whereas the others such as seven and a5 b5 g5 range between two to four minutes of divine simplicity, allowing the instrument to breathe, and capturing the essence of both artists – the player and the maker. The album recording was videotaped and is available on YouTube, but I found listening was even better on its own.
This album was perfect scoring for the snowstorm raging outside my window; wind sweeping in gestural gusts kept perfect pace with the sonic explorations. Less about technical wizardry and more about a duet between player and instrument, in a sense it felt more like being back at the beginning of the life of the 1700 Stradivarius. Without the clutter of pyrotechnics or dramatic composition, we have an intimate and pure setting to enjoy the offering, like fine morsels of cheese without the bread.
