John Allemeier - Deep Water: The Murder Ballads (2014)
Contemporary Classical | Albany TROY1488 | 2014 | 56:23 | EAC (FLAC, cue, log) | Booklet | Various File Hosts | 225 MB
Emily Jarrell Urbanek (piano), Erinn Frechette (flute), Jenny Topilow (violin), John Sadak (clarinet), Kari Giles (violin), Kristen Swanson (violin), Madison String Quartet, Michael Hackett (flugelhorn), Michael Hackett (trumpet), Mira Frisch (cello)
Ellen Smith, shot through the heart; Frankie Silver, who killed her abusive husband with his own gun and then dismembered him; and Omie Wise, seduced and drowned by a wealthy young man. Three folk songs from North Carolina inspired John Allemeier (b. 1970) and choreographer E.E. Balcos to create a darkly lyrical trio of chamber works that together make a single piece of dance theatre. This is vivid music that doesn’t need to be seen to be believed.