Release Date: September 14, 2018
Catalog #: NV6185
Format: Digital & Physical
21st Century
Chamber
Clarinet
Piano Trio
Saxophone

Art for Two

Arthur Gottschalk composer

Mario Ciaccio alto & tenor saxophone
Sauro Berti clarinet & bass clarinet
Naomi Fujiya piano
Eccher School of Music Vocal Ensemble

How can something as intimate as a musical moment shared between two people open up the door to endless possibilities? Discover the answer in ART FOR TWO, a collection of works by acclaimed composer Arthur Gottschalk and performed by Italian woodwind extraordinaires Sauro Berti and Mario Ciaccio, accompanied by the skilled hands of pianist Naomi Fujiya. In each piece, the performers call listeners into the moment as they traverse art music inspired by sources from traditional Jewish hymns to Frank Zappa.

The melodies of Berti and Ciaccio will carry listeners to some interesting and unexpected places. Italian bass clarinetist Sauro Berti has performed at major festivals from China to Mexico, and his command of the woodwind has earned him credit with the most notable orchestras in Italy and beyond. His counterpart, the award-winning saxophonist Mario Ciaccio, adds smooth flair — together, the two mesmerizingly work off of each other as the strains of their instruments sing together as one.

In the first piece, Benny, Zoot, and Teddy, one can almost hear witty banter back and forth between the instruments. Two best friends strolling through a lively city scene as they converse immediately comes to mind. The album’s concluding piece, Shalom, also features the two instruments in conversation, but this time with a different message. They are joined by a full choir to deliver a final word: “shalom,” a Hebrew word meaning “peace.” This message, balanced with the exchange of the woodwinds, sends listeners on their way, enriched with having joined the musicians on this journey.

In ART FOR TWO, each track brings listeners into a different shared conversation and experience. Enjoy the intimate dialogue between two musicians, and between the performer and you, the listener, as each song tells you a new, fascinating story.

Listen

Hear the full album on YouTube

"The performances are deliciously virtuoso and full of life"

Gramophone Magazine

Artist Information

Art-Gottschalk

Arthur Gottschalk

Composer

Arthur Gottschalk is Professor of Music Composition at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he founded and directed the school’s electronic music laboratories until 2002, and chaired the composition and theory department for 15 years. His early work as a studio musician led to his co-founding of Modern Music Ventures, Inc., a company which held a recording studio complex, a record production division, four publishing firms, and an artist management division, and for whom he produced records for the PolyGram and Capitol labels, among others.