Composer and multi-instrumentalist Wayne Alpern has been on a proverbial magic carpet ride. An endless journey motivates him to listen to his inner voice and in equal measure to learn from mentors covering a broad spectrum of musical styles.

His lengthy catalog of recordings never grows old. The way classics like the iconic television series I Love Lucy is eternal to TV viewers and The Wizard of Oz is perennial to movie buffs, Alpern’s releases are ageless to music, continuously relevant through the passage of time.

Many artists create music that reflects the time in which the music is made, but Alpern makes music with more permanence, reaching generations long after his own generation will pass. The source of his creativity is multi-fold, able to regenerate his imagination with infinite possibilities for improvisations.

“I’ve always been interested in the confluence of multiple musical styles, genres, and traditions,” he discerns. “I don’t elevate one over the other, or view them qualitatively as better or worse, high art or low. The different styles of jazz, classical music, pop music, folk music, country music, and ethnological music from various cultures around the world are merely different ways of approaching organized sound, emphasizing various technical aspects and musical qualities in relative degrees. I value them all.”

Now, here on his fourth album, The Shape of Strings New York-based composer and musicologist Wayne Alpern has invited into his circle a string ensemble composed of the best New York masters: six violins, two violas, two cellos and a double bass, led by concertmaster Monika Bauschwitz.

Thus, here on his new program of works entitled The Shape of Strings, we get to listen along as they take us from the 21st century into the 18th century, bringing forth the very kind of music that Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and other composers of his time would indeed themselves compose.

1. Reinvention 1
2. Reinvention 2
3. Reinvention 3
4. Serenade 1
5. Serenade 2
6. Serenade 3
7. Divertimento 1
8. Divertimento 2
9. Divertimento 3

Opening on the sternly orchestrated, yet lovingly smooth, ten minute Reinvention 1, the gentle gossamer of Reinvention 2 and then the boisterously flirtatious one minute, perky and playful the next Reinvention 3, he backs those up with the veritably shimmering Serenade 1, the aching longing within Serenade 2 and the gently frenetic Serenade 3, bringing this quite incredible new recording to a close on the fleeting Divertimento 1, the awe-inspiring and wholeheartedly encapsulating reach of Divertimento 2, and then comes the uplifting rhythms within the coquettish Divertimento 3.

Official Website

Wayne Alpern @ Facebook

Wayne Alpern @ Twitter