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Released 2004
The making of 'Shapes' has been a voyage of discovery for me. I have
been in the enviable position of recording a collection of some of the
greatest works of classical music ever written with the best people in
the business.
Coming
from a more pop or contemporary world it was important for me to
approach these works in a way that I could relate to which started off
by deconstructing the pieces purely for the sake of understanding
their workings and nature and then rebuilding them. I have had two
main rules: firstly, the need to try and make a sincere connection
with the composer and secondly, the need to be as sincere as I could
to you. This album never would have happened without great team work.
BBC
Worldwide have a team who have guided me in so many ways including
some of Jane Carter’s inspired repertoire choices, particularly the B
Minor Mass movement and Jim Reid's courage for taking this on and
giving me the freedom and encouragement to express myself. Nick
Patrick gave his magical ears and experience to the production. Nick
Ingman demonstrated how he's one of the world's greatest string
arrangers. Richard Cottle played some inspired keyboards and
electronic percussion and he and Andy Green did their work on all the
computer programming which is an important part of record making
today.
I have
been joined by the world's greatest musicians in their field including
Pino Palladino on bass, Miles Bould on percussion and Jason Rebello on
piano. Moya Brennan created some haunting vocal textures and I have
had the great honour of working with the two greatest singers in their
field: Sting and Placido Domingo. The result is like a diary or photo
album of this voyage, which is my pleasure to share with all music
lovers. |
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REVIEW:
On Wednesday, I spoke to a class full of exchange students from Tokyo,
Japan. The focus of the class was pop culture, with an emphasis on
music. In my introduction, I asked them why they listen to music. The
students, all in their early 20s, said they listen to music to relax,
to pass the time, to remember, to be happy, to be healed, to be
comforted. They like the power of what music can do. Lately, I've been
needing some good comfort music. That's why I've been listening to
classical guitarist Dominic Miller's 'Shapes'. 'Shapes', released by
Decca - home of David Lanz - is a 12-track journey into peaceful
dreams. Not only does the CD feature Miller's intricate
classical-guitar playing, but there are also background arrangements
performed by the London Session Orchestra and the Budapest Film
Orchestra, both conducted by Nick Ingman. In addition, Miller called
in a few musical guests to add their unique voices and instruments on
some selections: Sting, Placido Domingo, Alejandro Lerner and
trumpeter Chris Botti. They grace this reverent album in touching and
classy ways. (Miller and Botti played in Sting's band for the 'Brand
New Day' tour back in 2000.) Sting and Domingo perform together on
Schubert's 'Ave Maria', and both do solo appearances as well. Sting is
heard on Shape of My Heart, a tune co-written by him and Miller, and
Domingo beautifully sings Ariel Ramirez's 'Misa Criolla (Kyrie)'.
Lerner is heard on Bach's 'Mi Fe' and Botti's easy trumpet rings with
passion on 'Bach's Prelude No. 3 for Clavier'. The CD starts off with
Bach's 'Mass in B Minor (Qui Tollis)' and moves onto Albinoni's
'Adagio in G Minor'. One of my favourite cuts is the CD's closing
track, Beethoven's 'Piano Sonata No. 14 Moonlight', which is brought
to life, not with a piano, but Miller's mesmerizing finger-picking.
Another is Edward Elgar's 'Nimrod (9th Variation)' from 'Enigma
Variations', which gives the feeling of peaceful sunny, green open
fields... as opposed to the smog and cold we've had here lately. Other
soothing titles include Erik Satie's 'Gymnopedie No. 1' and Bach's
'Orchestral Suite No. 3', called' Air on a G String' for this CD.
Shapes is a CD to take for a spin when life gets heavy. It's the
perfect foil for hard times and sad times..
The Deseret News
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REVIEW:
'Shapes' is a collection of classical compositions by Bach, Satie, and
Schubert, among others, that have been retooled for the
Latin-influenced acoustic guitar of Dominic Miller. A seasoned session
player, Miller has performed with a diverse roster of artists, most
notably Sting, with whom he has recorded eleven albums including the
critically acclaimed 'The Soul Cages'. In the liner notes, Miller
credits Sting's gift of a book of Bach partitas and sonatas as the
catalyst for this ambitious project. 'Mass in B Minor (Qui Tollis),' a
Bach choral work, is one of the album's unexpected gems. Miller
reverses the Mass's melodic structure and replaces the vocal lines
with a lush string arrangement, while he explores the counter-melody
on guitar. This novel approach is what makes 'Shapes' such a pleasure.
Miller's ability to profoundly reinvent these beloved compositions and
yet deliver them with all their original passion and reverence is
remarkable. 'Ave Maria' is the one song Miller decides not to touch.
He performs it exactly as written, but invites his friends Placido
Domingo and Sting to perform it as a duet. The result is a classic
performance that only adds depth to 'Shapes's high lustre.
CD
Universe |
