Turetzky: Bretram and Nancy Turetzky: Spirit Song

In 2009, Nancy and I celebrated 50 years of partnership in marriage and music. In celebration, we recorded this album to document some of the music we love and have performed together over the years. Bologna's madrigals represent our love of and involvement with Early Music. Works by Alexander, Hauta-aho and Fricker represent our dedication to New Music. The duos by Alexander and Fricker are lyric, beautifully crafted and achieve balance in writing for the two instruments. Finnish bassist/composer Hauta-aho's Valse for Bert begins with (of course) a flute fanfare. Since my earliest days in music, the blues have been dear to my heart; we're joined on Monk's Blues by Bob Boss (a real bluesician) and Bob Weller (our favorite drummer). Fracas is a 4-channel "deep-dish" improvisational collage dedicated to Henry Brant, who wrote a live quadraphonic piece for an ensemble we had years ago. Spirit Song places pizzicato techniques in a World Music context and refernces sitar, guitar and bouzouki - and the music of their respective cultures.

Track listing:

Jacopo da Bologna
Four Madrigals
1. Madrigal I
2. Madrigal II
3. Madrigal III
4. Madrigal IV

John Alexander
5. Rain Spirit Passing

Bertram Turetzky
6. Monk's Blues

Teppo Hauta-aho
7. Valse for Bert

Peter Racine Fricker
8. Seachant

Bertram Turetzky
9. Fracas
10. Spirit Song