Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Winter 2025 25 CD Reviews PHOENIX RISING | CHOPIN: ETUDES, OP. 10; STRAVINSKY: THE FIREBIRD (SELECTIONS TRANSCRIBED BY GUIDO AGNOSTI); MOLINA: MALIKMATA; TAPALES: MINDANAO ORCHIDS; SAN PEDRO: SALAMISIM Ross Salvosa, piano MSR Recordings Released 2024 S o much happened in 2020, the year felt almost like a decade. Pianist Ross Salvosa definitely felt the same way. From the liner notes, "The tragic events of 2020, especially George Floyd's senseless killing, stirred deep emotions within me—anger, grief, and a sense of injustice…" So Salvosa did what any artist does in times of strife: create art. Two classic piano composers make their appearance here. The Firebird is one of Igor Stravinsky's most famous compositions. Each movement is vastly different, yet still tied together at its soul by way of the pianist. Ross Salvosa takes on this duty with vigor, zeal, and passion. Work by Chopin can be a technical challenge, but Salvosa makes it sound effortless. His fingers dance across the piano, especially in "Etude No. 1" and "No. 4." Each etude is played with the utmost care. You can tell from this recording alone the way he exudes respect and admiration for the piano. Is it any wonder he is one of the most sought-after instructors of piano pedagogy? But one of the things I love most about this collection is the appearance of Filipino composers. Chopin and Stravinsky have rightfully earned their fame, but they are still two musicians a pianist could list off in their sleep. Ross Salvano, however, invites us on a journey to his roots. There's the at once plaintive yet soaring and hopeful Malikmata by Antonio Molina. Ramon Tapales's Mindanao Orchid sounds almost like a ballet suite upon first listen. This is intentional, as the liner notes describe it as a homage to the Singkil, a traditional Filipino folk dance. Lucio San Pedro's Salamisim captures the nostalgic innocence of Filipino childhood, like photo albums spread out on the bedroom floor. The album is available for streaming on Spotify and purchase on msrcd.com. DAN LOCKLAIR: FROM EAST TO WEST & OTHER CHORAL WORKS Rupert Gough directs The Choir of Royal Holloway with organist David Goode & Onyx Brass Convivium Records Released internationally May 5th, 2024 I 'm writing this review in the heart of autumn. The leaves have shed their bright green, and in turn, the trees are shedding those leaves. This year has flown by, and Advent and Christmas are now merely weeks away. As if on cue, sacred choral music is raising its voice again in anticipation and celebration of the coming holidays. But the neat thing about Dan Locklair's From East to West & Other Choral Works is that it can ring in Christian feast days across the year in the span of an hour and five minutes. This SAI Friend of the Arts tackles the art of composition with the precision of a scientist. In his liner notes, he describes his use of tritones in the title piece as a way to "symbolize the expanse of 'East to West' and 'shore to shore' that Christ's birth and life sought to bridge." You will find compositions in English and Latin, from soft a capella, to bright and booming brass with Onyx Brass, and the fierce classicism of organist David Goode. The Choir of Royal Holloway, under the direction of Rupert Gough, gives Locklair's pieces the justice they deserve. At the risk of sounding cliché, there is a divine quality to their voices that feels like we are intruding on the rehearsal of the heavenly host. If you're looking for a rich, colossal Christmas (or Easter, or Ordinary Time), Dan Locklair certainly delivers. The album is available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music, and on CD through online retailers. Rebekah Strain was initiated into the Gamma Upsilon chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota at Morehead State University in 2013. She currently resides in Lexington, KY, where she teaches writing classes. She can be found on TikTok and Instagram as @rebekah_writes94

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