{"product_id":"stevens-townsend-robbings-questing-soul-music-for-violin-piano-cd","title":"Stevens \/ Townsend \/ Robbings - Questing Soul - Music For Violin \u0026 Piano [CD]","description":"\u003cp\u003eRobin Stevens' A Questing Soul, his fifth album with Divine Art, offers a compelling portrait of a composer whose work has evolved over nearly three decades. This collection spans a broad stylistic spectrum, charting Stevens' progression from the lush Late Romanticism of his early works to the more dissonant and experimental idioms of his later compositions. Throughout, Stevens balances technical innovation with an underlying sense of lyricism, humour, and tonal clarity, making this album a rich listening experience for those who appreciate the depth and variety of contemporary chamber music.The two most substantial works on the album-Fantasy Sonata and Sonata Tempesta-were composed during Stevens' late twenties and represent key milestones in his early output. The Fantasy Sonata, written for violinist Christine Townsend and pianist Stephen Robbings, presents an intensely focused sound world built around the octatonic scale. It's single-movement structure moves from a soulful, lamenting introduction to more turbulent, faster sections, culminating in a joyfully intense peroration. Sonata Tempesta, in contrast, is a large-scale, four-movement work whose expansive form allows Stevens to weave together moments of lyrical beauty and stormy intensity. Both pieces showcase Stevens' ability to combine complexity and accessibility, creating compositions that are intellectually stimulating yet emotionally resonant.The album also includes a number of shorter works, or \"miniatures,\" which offer Stevens the opportunity to explore new compositional ideas on a smaller scale. Pieces like Stratospheric! For solo violin and Toccata for solo piano demonstrate his flair for virtuosity and dynamic contrasts, while others, such as Cri de Coeur, evoke more contemplative, intimate soundscapes. These miniatures are fascinating in their own right, offering a glimpse into the composer's more experimental tendencies.One of the album's more unusual works, Scherzo in Blue, brings jazz influences into Stevens' instrumental music-a rarity in his oeuvre. The piece is infused with \"blue notes\" and jazzy piano chords, creating a playful yet sophisticated contrast to the more classical structures found elsewhere on the album.The title track, A Questing Soul, reflects the essence of the album: a compact tone poem for solo piano that alternates between dreamy lyricism and muscular, assertive themes. The piece encapsulates Stevens' ability to juxtapose contrasting musical ideas, leaving listeners with as many questions as answers-an approach that defines much of his work.With it's blend of large-scale sonatas, experimental miniatures, and the intriguing title track, A Questing Soul offers a comprehensive view of Robin Stevens' compositional range. This album will appeal to those with an interest in the intersections of modernism, Romanticism, and contemporary chamber music.Robin Stevens' A Questing Soul, his fifth album with Divine Art, offers a compelling portrait of a composer whose work has evolved over nearly three decades. This collection spans a broad stylistic spectrum, charting Stevens' progression from the lush Late Romanticism of his early works to the more dissonant and experimental idioms of his later compositions. Throughout, Stevens balances technical innovation with an underlying sense of lyricism, humour, and tonal clarity, making this album a rich listening experience for those who appreciate the depth and variety of contemporary chamber music.The two most substantial works on the album-Fantasy Sonata and Sonata Tempesta-were composed during Stevens' late twenties and represent key milestones in his early output. The Fantasy Sonata, written for violinist Christine Townsend and pianist Stephen Robbings, presents an intensely focused sound world built around the octatonic scale. It's single-movement structure moves from a soulful, lamenting introduction to more turbulent, faster sections, culminating in a joyfully intense peroration. Sonata Tempesta, in contrast, is a large-scale, four-movement work whose expansive form allows Stevens to weave together moments of lyrical beauty and stormy intensity. Both pieces showcase Stevens' ability to combine complexity and accessibility, creating compositions that are intellectually stimulating yet emotionally resonant.The album also includes a number of shorter works, or \"miniatures,\" which offer Stevens the opportunity to explore new compositional ideas on a smaller scale. Pieces like Stratospheric! For solo violin and Toccata for solo piano demonstrate his flair for virtuosity and dynamic contrasts, while others, such as Cri de Coeur, evoke more contemplative, intimate soundscapes. These miniatures are fascinating in their own right, offering a glimpse into the composer's more experimental tendencies.One of the album's more unusual works, Scherzo in Blue, brings jazz influences into Stevens' instrumental music-a rarity in his oeuvre. The piece is infused with \"blue notes\" and jazzy piano chords, creating a playful yet sophisticated contrast to the more classical structures found elsewhere on the album.The title track, A Questing Soul, reflects the essence of the album: a compact tone poem for solo piano that alternates between dreamy lyricism and muscular, assertive themes. The piece encapsulates Stevens' ability to juxtapose contrasting musical ideas, leaving listeners with as many questions as answers-an approach that defines much of his work.With it's blend of large-scale sonatas, experimental miniatures, and the intriguing title track, A Questing Soul offers a comprehensive view of Robin Stevens' compositional range. This album will appeal to those with an interest in the intersections of modernism, Romanticism, and contemporary chamber music.Robin Stevens' A Questing Soul, his fifth album with Divine Art, offers a compelling portrait of a composer whose work has evolved over nearly three decades. This collection spans a broad stylistic spectrum, charting Stevens' progression from the lush Late Romanticism of his early works to the more dissonant and experimental idioms of his later compositions. Throughout, Stevens balances technical innovation with an underlying sense of lyricism, humour, and tonal clarity, making this album a rich listening experience for those who appreciate the depth and variety of contemporary chamber music.The two most substantial works on the album-Fantasy Sonata and Sonata Tempesta-were composed during Stevens' late twenties and represent key milestones in his early output. The Fantasy Sonata, written for violinist Christine Townsend and pianist Stephen Robbings, presents an intensely focused sound world built around the octatonic scale. It's single-movement structure moves from a soulful, lamenting introduction to more turbulent, faster sections, culminating in a joyfully intense peroration. Sonata Tempesta, in contrast, is a large-scale, four-movement work whose expansive form allows Stevens to weave together moments of lyrical beauty and stormy intensity. Both pieces showcase Stevens' ability to combine complexity and accessibility, creating compositions that are intellectually stimulating yet emotionally resonant.The album also includes a number of shorter works, or \"miniatures,\" which offer Stevens the opportunity to explore new compositional ideas on a smaller scale. Pieces like Stratospheric! For solo violin and Toccata for solo piano demonstrate his flair for virtuosity and dynamic contrasts, while others, such as Cri de Coeur, evoke more contemplative, intimate soundscapes. These miniatures are fascinating in their own right, offering a glimpse into the composer's more experimental tendencies.One of the album's more unusual works, Scherzo in Blue, brings jazz influences into Stevens' instrumental music-a rarity in his oeuvre. The piece is infused with \"blue notes\" and jazzy piano chords, creating a playful yet sophisticated contrast to the more classical structu\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cdiv data-bt-autogen\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracklist:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFantasy Sonata (in one movement)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eToccata\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCri de Coeur\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStratospheric!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScherzo in Blue\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReconciliation?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSonata Tempesta~I. Adagio con moto - Moderato, energico ed appassionato\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSonata Tempesta~II. Scherzo: Allegro vivo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSonata Tempesta~III. Andante tranquillo (ma non lento)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSonata Tempesta~IV. Finale: Allegro con spirito\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQuesting Soul\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTom and Jerry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree Vingettes~I. Beethoven through the Looking Glass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree Vingettes~II. Summertime Langour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree Vingettes~III. Master of the Rocking Horse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInterrupted Waltz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree Bagatelles~I. Tempo di Valse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree Bagatelles~II. Allegro non troppo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree Bagatelles~III. Allegro fuoco\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSay Yes To Life\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoliloquy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPC:\u003c\/strong\u003e 809730112126\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLabel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Divine Art\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelease Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.31.25\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e CD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Broadtime","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42114349236299,"sku":"493326","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/7223\/1499\/files\/4384348-3290590.jpg?v=1770188962","url":"https:\/\/rockbandmerch.com\/products\/stevens-townsend-robbings-questing-soul-music-for-violin-piano-cd","provider":"Rock Band Merch","version":"1.0","type":"link"}