John McDonald: Airy, Music for Violin and Piano
By Ralph Graves
Airy brings together John McDonald’s music for violin and piano, bringing together light-hearted miniatures with more serious long-form compositions. It’s an appealing program that’s full of variety. Mad Dance, Op. 66 and the Suite of Six Curt Pieces, Op. 326 are just plain fun, while the major work, the Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 219 is more complex composition with greater emotional depth.
In the program notes, McDonald says he considers many of these works to be songs without words — and it’s an apt description. Poem, Op. 12, for example, is based on the poetry of Samuel Beckett. The shape of the music is determined by the poem, although not a word is sung. That’s also the case with Lily Events, Op. 97 (inspired by poetry collection), and the Lines After Keats, Op. 336.
There’s an audible chemistry between violinist Joanna Kurkowicz and the composer (who accompanies her). Airy is the title of the release, and airy it is.
John McDonald: Airy, Music for Violin and Piano
Joanna Kurkowicz, violin; John McDonald, piano
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