Search - Mychael Danna :: Skys

Winter sky-paintings from a master

Daniel R. Greenfield | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | 01/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album can be described as a suite for digital strings, along with various other instruments: oboe, flute, trumpet, and cello. It is a suite of tone-poems depicting the various cloud textures which appear in the skies of northern Canada during the cold months of the year. The composer uses a style of writing which he describes as romantic minimalism: "repetition of small melodic/harmonic cells, rendered with deep feeling, meant to elicit certain emotions which this sullen scenery inspires". This is a sister album to Danna's later work, North of Niagara. Both works are intensely involved with an exploration of the natural world from the romantic-minimalist perspective. Whereas North of Niagara is mainly a summer album, Skys is mainly a winter album: it is sullen, melancholy, dark, and majestic. I have had this album for six years and have listened to it many times, and it never ceases to impress me each time I hear it."

Skys has not left my cd player in six years.

pneuman@jupiternetworks.com | New York | 05/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased skys in a used CD store in Albany New York because the cover looked interesting. Six years later it remains in my cd player and never leaves it. Skys has taught me the power of music through imaginitive interpretation. When I listen to this music, I find myself traveling through Worlds of vision created in my mind and stimulated by Danna's music. Everytime I listen to this CD, I feel a comfort and security that I have grown to love and embrace. Amazing what music can do, isn't it? If Mychael Danna is reading this....thank you."

Transcendent

pneuman@jupiternetworks.com | 02/28/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the smartest buys I've ever made. I first heard "Sky 7" on "Celtic Twilight." While this is a wonderful piece, to hear it alone and miss the others on this album would be a tragedy. Recommended with great enthusiasm!"