A heartfelt and elegantly riveting classical sound shows on From the Heart, the sixth album from Sharon Ruchman — and her first devoted entirely to violin and piano duets. The Washington, CT-based artist captivates with a memorable sound, created in partnership with violinist Artemis Simerson. The pieces span lyrical dances, reflective meditations, and vivid rhythmic contrasts. “From the Heart came about after meeting a violinist through a mutual musician friend who expressed an interest in performing my music,” says Ruchman. “In turn, I became excited about creating a collection that showcased the violin’s beauty and the player’s expressiveness.”
The album’s title track opens the release with gorgeous allure, weaving weeping strings and easy-flowing piano for a heart-tugging sound — evoking a cinematic quality, reminiscent of Joe Hisaishi’s works. The subsequent “Enraptured” moves with a more foreboding mystique, again embracing piano and strings, though here with a fervent expressiveness that culminates in impassioned tonal ferocity from the strings across the track’s second half. The strong opening one-two punch showcases Ruchman as wholly capable of quality songcraft across both serene and ardent soundscapes.
Another highlight comes in “Lullaby in G,” which melds delicate piano and melancholic strings with a gracefully evolving precision — and into emotive interplay between the instrumentation as the mid-point passes. The album’s concluding three-movement sonata stands out as well, from the first movement’s stately consistency to the finale’s brisker, frolicking feeling. Full of enjoyable melodies and classical-minded timelessness, From the Heart is a thorough success from Sharon Ruchman.
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“From the Heart” is also featured in the mood-based, best-of Spotify compilation Rainy Days and Late Night Drives.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
