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Description
"Momentary Undertow" is the second movement of my "Suite: Flow," the first of two suites that makes up Disc 2 of my latest album, FLOW: The Music of J.S. Bach and Tobin Mueller. This movement takes the initial theme from the first movement and gives it a different feel, then inserts an almost Impressionist section that illustrates the undertow feeling (more emotionally than physically).
Bach's Goldberg Variations was what first drove me to try this sort of second movement. I swayed with the swirl of shallow currents as I played, like submerged seaweed. The middle whole-tone arpeggio section represents the moment in which the undertow kicks in. Although the piece may seem more akin to Beethoven's Für Elise at first blush, it was composed after listening to Bach's Chorale Prelude, "In dulci jubilo" (BWV 729). In my mind, it also conjures the elder couple from Cabaret, Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz ("Married"). Such is the wandering might of imagination.
Disc 2 of "Flow" is supposed to be original music directly affected by my work during the past year with Bach. Yet, to be truthful, the pieces are more influenced by composer-pianists like Keith Jarrett, Thelonious Monk and Fred Hersch. This one has more Jarrett and Hersch in it. I love standing on the shoulder of giants.
Here is the other track from "FLOW: The Music of JS Bach and Tobin Mueller" shared on MacJams:
from "Suite: Flow" (Disc 2):
Momentary Undertow (second movement)
Salmon Ladder Variations (fourth movement)
from "The New England Suite" (Disc 2):
River Ice (Winter)
Lighthouse (Spring)
And from Disc 1, Tobin plays Bach:
Bourée/Beret
Air
Reinvention #13
If you haven't yet, please check out the review of "Flow" at Fanfare Magazine's "Not-to-be-missed 2015 Want List", favorite 2015 albums chosen by it's in-house music critics.
Also, if you'd like to read more (and listen to more) from this album:
Tobin's "Flow" project page on Tobin's website
"Flow" on CDBaby (where you can buy the CD Box Set
"Flow" is also on iTunes. Simply search "Tobin Mueller" via iTunes, or google "Tobin Mueller music"
Bach's Goldberg Variations was what first drove me to try this sort of second movement. I swayed with the swirl of shallow currents as I played, like submerged seaweed. The middle whole-tone arpeggio section represents the moment in which the undertow kicks in. Although the piece may seem more akin to Beethoven's Für Elise at first blush, it was composed after listening to Bach's Chorale Prelude, "In dulci jubilo" (BWV 729). In my mind, it also conjures the elder couple from Cabaret, Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz ("Married"). Such is the wandering might of imagination.
Disc 2 of "Flow" is supposed to be original music directly affected by my work during the past year with Bach. Yet, to be truthful, the pieces are more influenced by composer-pianists like Keith Jarrett, Thelonious Monk and Fred Hersch. This one has more Jarrett and Hersch in it. I love standing on the shoulder of giants.
Here is the other track from "FLOW: The Music of JS Bach and Tobin Mueller" shared on MacJams:
from "Suite: Flow" (Disc 2):
Momentary Undertow (second movement)
Salmon Ladder Variations (fourth movement)
from "The New England Suite" (Disc 2):
River Ice (Winter)
Lighthouse (Spring)
And from Disc 1, Tobin plays Bach:
Bourée/Beret
Air
Reinvention #13
If you haven't yet, please check out the review of "Flow" at Fanfare Magazine's "Not-to-be-missed 2015 Want List", favorite 2015 albums chosen by it's in-house music critics.
Also, if you'd like to read more (and listen to more) from this album:
Tobin's "Flow" project page on Tobin's website
"Flow" on CDBaby (where you can buy the CD Box Set
"Flow" is also on iTunes. Simply search "Tobin Mueller" via iTunes, or google "Tobin Mueller music"
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lyzak
I've enjoyed reading your commentary, a few times, while pleasurably listening!
It's helpful hearing where you're coming from as the movement plays.