Andrew McPherson: Secrets of Antikythera

Secrets of Antikythera contains three compositions from experimental composer Andrew McPherson: “Kinematics”, “d’Amore”, and nine movement suite “Secrets of the Antikythera”. Each highlights McPherson’s cerebral compositional style.

“Kinematics”, performed by violinist Martin Schultz, gives musical representation of the title, which refers to mechanics. Violin is utilized warmly and adventurously, delivering a “complete” artistic experience. On “d’Amore”, violist Nadia Sirota delivers a lyrically mysterious performance, which relies upon “sympathetic strings” of a magnetic resonator piano.

A piano is central to masterpiece “Secrets of Antikythera”, performed by Ryan McEvoy McCullough. The suite serves as a tone poem to the anthikythera, an ancient mechanical device that plotted position of the planets. The eighth movement, “Vision Fulfilled”, marks the peak, eschewing the electronic resonators of the piano.

Secrets of Antikythera exhibits the genius of the contemporary classical composer. It’s progressive while preserving the artistic sensibilities and genius of preceding masters.