Duo Concertante Incarnation

This exciting violin-piano duo showcase come of Canada's finest contemporary composers!

Incarnation features world premier recordings of five pieces written especially for Duo Concertante by Chan Ka Nan, Denis Gougeon, Alice Ho, Jocelyn Morlock and Andrew Staniland. Performed by Duo Concertante: Nancy Dahn, violin and electric violin; and Timothy Steeves, piano. In Incarnation, Chan Ka Nin pays tribute to Schubert by echoing themes derived from works such as ''Death and the Maiden'' and ''Fantasy in C for violin and piano''. Chan Ka Nin tries to relive how Schubert composed, to rediscover his state of mind, and at the same time to rework his ideas in a contemporary context. Jocelyn Morlock's Petrichor is gleaned from the first movement of Bach's Sonata in G major for violin and keyboard. The contrasting moods of the piece vary from whimsical to ecstatic, becoming calm and serene at the end. Andrew Staniland's The River Is Within Us is an intense lyrical work inspired by T. S. Eliot's famous Four Quartets in which the seasons create a striking subtext. Denis Gougeon's Chants du C ur consists of two movements. Chant du C ur I is slow, giving the melodic material entirely to the violin, with the piano supplying the accompaniment in a dark and serious mood. Chant du C ur II uses the first notes of ''Flow my tears'', by John Dowland. Here the mood is livelier and the range of emotion and dynamic more highly contrasted. Alice Ping Yee Ho's C ur à C ur (Heart to Heart) is conceived as an imaginary conversation between two voices exchanging inner thoughts and confessing their feelings to each other. There is an emotional aspect of the music that suggests a deep affection and mutual understanding, like the support and receptiveness between players in a duet. Known for their brilliant, passionate performances, critics have praised Nancy Dahn and Timothy Steeves' ''deeply integrated performances that flow naturally as if the music were being created on the spot'' (Gramophone).