Esmail, Unlikely Stories for violin and piano
"Sometimes inspiration comes from going back to the basics," writes acclaimed composer Reena Esmail. Two of the three pieces in this set ("...in a network of lines that enlace..." and "...without fear of wind or vertigo...") started life as etudes she wrote for herself when learning the violin as an adult. The third piece, "...what story down there awaits its end?" is a reimagining of movement six of Esmail's oratorio, "This Love Between us." The text of that movement is Part 3: Lecture 15 of the Acharanga Sutra, giving this piece its subtitle. The three works can be played individually or together as a suite. Titles are taken from Italo Calvino's novel "If on a winter's night a traveler," one of Esmail's favorite pieces.
Learn more about the composer at www.reenesmail.com. Videos of each piece may be found below, performed by Cora Cooper, violin and Amanda Arrington, piano.
Videos
"...what story down there awaits its end?"