Occasionally, moments of happiness and comfort can rise from experiences of anxiety and doubt,
during which we learn about ourselves and our limits. Composer and pianist Jeffrey Jacob depicts
the experiences of struggle and pain, and of triumph and joy on his debut Navona Records release
DARKNESS TO LIGHT.
Death and Transfiguration (Symphony No. 3), a contemporary version of Richard Strauss's tone
poem, expresses the emotions of a dying man, who, fearing death, later finds exaltation in it. String
Quartet No. 2 and Elegy portray turmoil, the former showing the defeat of inner darkness, and
the latter referencing the violent conflict between Israel and Palestine. The short and lyrical piece
Adagietto Misterioso builds tension to illustrate feelings of nostalgia and transitoriness, while
Symphony No. 1 presents ideas about timelessness, taken from T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets. Through
his music, Jacob discusses the vulnerable moments of human existence and how through our
vulnerability, we can open ourselves to growth toward a brighter perspective.
Currently Artist-in-Residence at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame IN, Jeffrey Jacob received
degrees from the Juilliard School and the Peabody Conservatory. Recently, he has received the
Artist of the Year Award from the International New Music Consortium at New York University for
his work as composer, pianist, and educator.
Follow Us: