Mark Isaacs, an award-winning pianist and composer, is a firmly established international composer, with an abundance of highly applauded orchestral and chamber music works to his name, and now is adding to his treasure trove of piano solos with the release this week (June 30) of his latest album, SONATA. Produced and recorded by ABC Classic, the album shows the best of Isaacs’ imaginative and intelligent artistry, and is a demonstration of his superb craft as a composer and pianist. Already one selection released as a “single” on Spotify is approaching a million viewings, and two pieces will be premiered in the 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition – a true testimony to the artistry and technical scope of these compositions.
In the principal work, Sonata, Isaacs shows his deep understanding, love and communication of both classical and jazz forms, in particular Chopin’s Ballades, where balanced structure and form blend with affective intimacy, passion and lyricism. In the 1st Movement (Adagio Piangendo), a particularly seductive opening section of gentle rocking rhythms and introspective phrases is never excessive in emotion, but is captivating, showing Isaacs’ trademark style of uplifting beauty and intelligence in his detailed performance. In the extended design of the 2nd Movement (Allegro Esultante – Allegretto ma moto cantabile e nobilmente – Andante – Andante Maestoso) the music builds with broad layers of richly coloured chords and a diversity of changing time signatures, and is a mature and balanced form that grows and rises to a highly technical and virtuosic ending. Richly harmonised, diverse in textures, Sonata raises the human spirit with melodic warmth and grandeur.
In a set of six Songs Without Words we are comforted with a hint of the flavours of Mendelssohn, gentle rocking rhythms, romantic melodic themes and surging harmonies, but fresh shapes and patterns evolve with Isaac’s infusion of jazz chords and orchestral crescendos. In the first song, So Many Questions, Isaacs has given us a perpetual flowing accompaniment against a fluid melody, with the music changing key signatures constantly in the search for the answer. Walk a Golden Mile develops strong conversational melodic lines, grand statements and technical challenges as it increases in symphonic chordal gestures and virtuosity, before closing with Isaacs’ trademark – a calm, gentle and reflective close. The Wind in The Willows, Bagatelle, and Closer all warm the listener with their romantic beauty, a captivating dreaminess, and at times the nostalgic sultriness of a jazz ballad, always with inspiring lyrical themes that build with more dramatic orchestral chords. Cortege evokes the solemnity of a procession, but the heavy earthy bass notes never reduce the forward moving spirit felt in insistent repeated sarabande dance rhythms in the upper melody. Again a build-up of orchestral chords lead to a thoughtful close with a soft, soothing hymn-like cadence.
Welcome and unexpected on this album is the closing Theme and Variations on the English folk tune The Snow It Melts the Soonest. Isaacs has set the lyrical modal lines with fresh harmonic and imaginative scenes, first with quirky rhythms, then with rich chordal textures, increasing chromaticism and a more intense orchestral range of dynamics. Excitement grows as the melody is anchored through the bass while cadenza-like patterns fly up and down through a most virtuosic section.
Recordings of Australian composers performing their own works in a solo album like this are a highly welcome musical and historical resource, gratefully supported by ABC Classic. This album offers us wonderful listening and is a valuable addition to Australian contemporary piano repertoire.
Photo credit @sonicssydney
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Julie McErlain reviewed “SONATA – Solo Piano Works Composed & Performed by Mark Isaacs”, an ABC Classic new release.
