It was evident that the music of composers Gabriel Field and Sharad Goulam should be the subject of a collaborative album. For good reason: as longtime friends trained in Paris by the same masters (Stéphane Delplace and Anthony Girard) and having shared the stage in concert, it is mutual respect and a shared vision of new music that unite these two composers, who decide to dedicate their first album to solo piano. Their languages, rooted in tonality and modality, marked by harmonic subtlety and the quest for expressive dissonance, draw their emotional roots from the secret pains of the soul, granting their musical worlds universality and humanity.

Beyond these similarities, their musical and personal journeys remain distinct, showcasing the multiple facets unique to each of them. On the album, Goulam presents a fiery virtuosity and a passionate thematic drive characterizing the Toccata furiosa, which is met by the unstoppable harmonic surge of Prelude V. The meditative interiority and painfully contrapuntal nature of the Marche is reflected in the dark atmosphere of the Deux Nocturnes, some of whose sonorities resonate with the mysteriously folkloric and dreamlike harmonic essence of the Arabesque. In Field’s work, the gentle intimacy of the Quatre Berceuses and the tender clarity of the Péché d’époque contrast with the despair and austerity of his dark and ironic Trois pièces joyeuses, marked by profound sadness. Moreover, his Huit Chorals (extracted from a vast collection of two volumes of twenty-four chorals each) employ sophisticated counterpoint to serve a multitude of emotional nuances, delivered through rich and colorful harmony.

Amidst similarities and differences, it is only natural that the twin pianist sisters Chiara and Fiona Alaimo, both brilliant musicians trained in Brussels and Paris and already in the international spotlight as both soloists and duo performers, were captivated by this project dedicated to their instrument: the piano. Free to choose the pieces they perform, they bring their own artistic sensibilities to the music, showcasing both their commonalities and their differences, much like the two composers.

Two composers, two pianists, amidst similarities and differences, this is a unique and singular project in today’s musical landscape: with this album, a musical journey unfolds for the audience through the inner worlds of Gabriel Field and Sharad Goulam, in Echo(s), by the Alaimo sisters.

Learn more about Sharad Goulam : sharadgoulam.com

Learn more about Fiona and Chiara Alaimo : fionachiaraalaimo.com