American Record Guide

We’ve given James Cook (b. 1963) tempered praise for his sacred music; Mr. Metz was disappointed in his organ pieces. Cook wrote a few symphonies, studied at Oxford University for a year, I believe, then turned to sacred vocal music, then to organ music, and then to opera. This cycle of five songs was originally for soprano and orchestra; I listened to it a few times before reading the liner notes, and I kept thinking, “This piano writing is anything but stereotypically pianistic!” It is easy to imagine the orchestra’s colors, and I would like to hear it in its original form. The piece is a paean to Richard Wagner, with texts from Cosima, Algernon Charles Swineburne, an Italian plaque commemorating Wagner, American Civil War soldier Sidney Lanier, and John Janeway (1633-1657).

The songs are slow and sober yet still sensual; Cook’s language is fairly tonal, but the harmonies and the progression of the music contribute to an alluring and effective atmosphere of meditation. The piano has extended introductions and postludes. The soprano usually has just one syllable per note; I wish she had a chance to soar the way the piano does. The piano’s miking makes it sound clunky, and Lacey needs to make more of her consonants. Mr Metz’s criticism of Cook for a lack of memorable melodies and meandering writing applies to some extent here, but I’ve still found this piece compelling in spite of the shortcomings. Notes and texts in English.

—Stephen Estep