|
SITE RATING: 9/10 SITE
REVIEW: Sadly
out-of-print, this transcription of Handel's Messiah
for classical guitar is masterfully done by
guitarist/Christian artist Gary Lowry, who
faithfully, without any attempt at dramatic
reinvention, has painstakingly converted ten
movements of Messiah for guitar,
transcribing the orchestral, solo, and chorus
parts, and then playing each part himself,
layering the guitars tracks carefully over
each other seamlessly. The effect is far
more effective and moving than mere "New Age"
stylings - which tend to strip down classical
works to bare minimum - Mr. Lowry, in taking
all the different parts into consideration,
has made this music something new to be
experienced and appreciated. By using
the classical guitar, he transports Handel's
baroque oratorio into a fresh palette; it
sounds not unlike John Dowland's lute music,
but using Handel's melodic, accessible forms.
He's amazingly virtuostic as well - one
listen to the intricate fretwork performed on
"Glory To God" needs to be heard to be
believed, as he runs effortlessly up and down
the scale in harmonic thirds. I was
quite literally entranced by his sensitive,
beautiful playing. My only complaint is
that at thirty-eight minutes, I was left
wanting more, and after hearing this
transformed Messiah, I could easily hear the
entire work expanded and re-imagined as a
chamber piece. Well worth seeking out if
you're in the mood for hearing Messiah
anew.
|