Customer Reviews

Etudes 4 Violin & Electronix

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I heard about DBR on National Public Radio, where he was describing his music as a combination of classical and hip hop. This album has some tracks with an electronic percussion beat, and I suppose if I actually listened to hip hop, maybe I would see a connection, but it's not the first word that comes to my mind. In fact the acoustic piano on several of the tracks reminds me of George Winston. So if you're not a fan of hip-hop, don't stay away from this recording. (If you are a hip-hop fan, you'll have to find someone else to review this for you.)
DBR tends towards shriller, or as he puts it "wailing", side of the violin. In fact the first track opens with an atonal, screechy passage that made me wonder what I'd gotten myself in for. That track, Black Man Singing, is pretty other-worldly sounding, but turns out to be more melodic than much contemporary classical music. On the Phillip Glass track, Divergence, DBR does make the violin sing. I think that's my favorite piece on this CD.
If you like this CD, you might also try Vanessa Mae's Storm, which this reminded me a lot of.

Loved it. Each track is completely different from the next. Especially enjoyed DBR's solo pieces.