L’ Arbre de Vie (The Tree of Life) – Mika Väyrynen, Accordion Mika Väyrynen, accordionist, has once more proven why he is recognized around the world as a superb musician. Here is a musician with something to say; his performances reach out and grab the listener. Every note is performed with a sense of importance; nothing is left to chance. One knows the performer is not only playing the notes on the page; he is also thinking those thousands of musical symbols. I have never listened to his playing and wondered why he was choosing this repertoire to play. He understands the music and obviously likes it; then he shares it with the listener. As in his previous recordings, Mika demonstrates pure artistry when you listen to the phrasing! Every musical sound is beautifully produced. Really listen to the final notes of his phrases; they are never without just the right length or caress of the tone. His control of the bellows directions is so outstanding that one is not aware they are changing. The musical dynamics, the musical expression . . . listen to the gradual building over many measures; you feel the growth to the peak, then the relaxation, sometimes immediate or maybe a gradual diminuendo, and now again, perhaps yet another tension-producing rise of a carefully graduated crescendo. It is the artistic restraint that often causes these very extended crescendi to be so exciting for the listener. Our interest never wanes! But, of course, this artist also knows when it is time to really let loose with a great display of his instrument and his ability to do so is tremendous. His personal technique encompasses that to which any artist must surely aspire. All of the selections on this CD are gems. Anyone with a great appetite for the organ works of J.S. Bach will recognize and relish the repertoire on this CD! It is amazing to me that Mika Väyrynen, one person with only two hands, can perform some of this music as he does. He brings out the various voicings in such a remarkable manner you may well believe he has moved to a different manual on an organ. One is sure to hear the conversation between and among the changing voices. His instrument and the sounds Väyrynen pulls and pushes out of it are pure joy for the ear to hear. Now we know everyone will say they like the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, but what of the other repertoire on this CD? Believe me, everyone will also like this music, too! It is somewhat amazing how general non-sophisticated audiences will say they do not like so-called modern contemporary music and yet, when they have the opportunity to hear an artist of Väyrynen’s proportion perform it, they change their minds. Such is the case with the three contemporary pieces on this CD; listeners will enjoy the music. It is beautifully performed and offers diverse musical sounds for the listener to experience and it is music composed for the accordion by three very distinctly different composers from three separate parts of the world. All in all, once again, the phenomenal Finnish musician Mika Väyrynen has treated us to a recording of splendid repertoire, both original and arranged for the accordion. If you like fine performances, buy this CD for your personal collection. I recommend it very highly. Reviewed by Joan Cochran Sommers, February 2007 |
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