Musicians from the metal genre have been recruited for classical works and concerts before, but they usually end up giving more ground than do their classical collaborators. That doesn't happen in the title work here by
Earl Maneein
, who is the violinist in a guitar-less metal band called
Resolution15
(he plays electric violin).
Dependent Arising
(the title seems to be derived from Buddhist thought, which plays a role in the work's inspiration) sounds like what one might imagine a classical work by a metal performer ought to. It is loud, intense, and frenetic, punctuated by periods of calm that last only a short time except in the central movement, which has some extremes of its own. It helps that both the principals are comfortable on each other's turf;
Maneein
is a classically trained violinist, while violin soloist
Rachel Barton Pine
is a longtime metal fan.
is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but it is varied enough not to come off as hitting the listener over the head, and the percussion section of the
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
under conductor
Tito Munoz
(who was also involved in the work's genesis) keeps up with the rapid flow of events. The first work on the program,
Shostakovich
's
Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77
, is also quite strong;
Pine
plays its long, slow first movement quite somberly as if to prepare the ground for the fireworks to come.
's releases are rarely conventional and still more rarely boring, and she has come up with something genuinely different this time. ~ James Manheim