The Miolina violin duo explores recent compositions for two violins, including two by Lyn Bechtold. One won’t find here the heartfelt melodies and heart-warming harmonies of the Romantic Age; rather one hears the often dystopic sounds of a world marked by inequalities and conflicts. The opening track, Shibuya Tokyo, reflects sounds and train rhythms of a busy Tokyo train station. Alway/Home evokes sounds associated with going away and coming home, with slowly changing string harmonics, and interjections of found sound. A solo melodic line bleeds into a flock of birds. Tres Insultos explores the insults teasing and ridicule, ignoring, and harassment, beginning energetically and ending in a solemn representation of the cold shoulder. Lateral Line has constant static crackles, as the violin sound looks up from beneath the sea. Scene for Molina opens with rapid tremolo figures leading to two voices in dialogue, and then converging violins that ultimately separate.
Spinning Song includes contemporary dance rhythms, the sound of spinning coins, and imitation of medieval secular song. TAG features a drone beneath scordatura (abnormally tuned strings) styles. Empty Bottles evokes nights spent drinking with friends, and features dissonance against the first violin’s melody, followed by wild licks and quirky gestures before return to the beginning sounds. Ill includes percussionists creating a hip-hop rhythmic drive while the marimba lays down the groove and the violins provide glissandos. In Tears, A Lament, originally a sad song by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the two violins sing rhapsodically in duet, while a disembodied voice attempts to disrupt. [adapted from J. Degroot, www.icareifyoulisten.com]

1. K. Tanaka: Shibuya Tokyo (2009) (1:52)
2. L. Bechtold: Away/Home 1.2 (2010/12) (4:54)
3. A. Negrón: Tres insultos para dose violins (2004) (4:34)
4. M. Grey & J. De Weille: Lateral Line: Three Electric Fish for two violins & electronics (2006) 3:12)
5. M. Paranosic: Scene for Miolina (1990/2013) (10:40)
6. D. Cooper: Spinning Song for solo violin & electronics (2008) (4:30)
7. J. Myers: TAG for two violins & electronic drone (2010) (2:52)
8. G. Pritsker: Empty Bottles (1992) (5:50)
9. J. Greenstein: ILL for two violins, marimba, & drum kit (2002) (7:44)
10. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor/arr. L. Bechtold: Tears, A lament for two violins & electronics (1896/2013) (1:46)