The Prophet

Description

Cello, Piano — My continuing admiration for the music of Gabriel Fauré began upon hearing a recording of his piano trio with violinist Gil Shaham. The second theme in the first movement of this work haunts me, and I often return to it when I want that particular dose of tranquility. Like reading a book by an unfamiliar author and then immediately ingesting the rest of their work, my love for Fauré began. There are melodic/harmonic relationships throughout his music that “do things” no one else does and go places where no one else goes. THE PROPHET is a song for cello and piano written as a tribute to this French master (and mentor to masters). It unfolds patiently, and somewhat darkly, but eventually leans towards more hopeful refrains. It is one of my more transcendent works, and the piano’s ascension near the end, followed by the cello’s pizzicato recitative tends to suffuse me with a similar serenity to those special moments from my first experiences with Fauré’s music. Carter Pann describes THE PROPHET as an art song for cello and piano written as a tribute to Fauré, the French master and mentor to Ravel, and to Nadia Boulanger (who in turn mentored subsequent generations of modern composers). One of Pann’s more peacefully sublime works, THE PROPHET unfolds patiently and somewhat darkly, eventually leaning towards more hopeful refrains and soaring expressive lines.

Preview Pages