Orchestral music lends itself to classical artists. The shadows of titans such as Bach, Beethoven and Boccherini hang heavily over the genre and may seem all-encompassing at first, but modern composers such as Peter Jonatan show us that there’s still much to be explored. In his debut album, “Psalms Symphony,” Jonatan’s unique sound can be heard from the beginning.
The first track begins with an air of curiosity and whimsy. The epic brass rises up from behind it to create a sense of wonder until it’s sweeping you off your feet. The adventure feels like it begins around the first minute mark, with the melody changing to a marching percussion that pushes its triumphant feeling until it falls into darkness around the 2 and a half minute mark. The track continues into masterful blendings of smooth and busy jazz intervals, with the section that moves into the 7-minute mark being a stand-out. It moves from a dark and precarious atmosphere to one that oozes cool sophistication after a quick transition that fills the listener with wonder. The first movement of Psalms Symphony is sure to hook any listener with its strong emotional notes, hints of wonder and cool boldness.
The second track greets the listener with a beautiful piano solo before it moves into its mellow charms, with a brief sprinkle of adventurous curiosity sandwiched in between. The movement feels all about appreciating the understated, with sounds that evoke a sense of comfort such as cradling flutes and a slow, deep bassline. The piano later becomes an ally of whimsy as the rest of the track settles more into an air of calm practicality. The second movement of Psalms Symphony has a sound and feeling that’s relatable and soothing as it takes you on its musical journey.
The final track sweeps you off your feet from the start, with a beautiful vocal chorus praising the triumphant glory of God. After an epic intro, the track leverages its epic feel into a short and sweet deconstruction of the feeling as it becomes reorganized into a hot jazz beat. Busy grooves are given motion in the piano keys, with the percussion amping up the tension as it rapidly moves the listener through the track and into the section. Powerful vocals once again greets the listener with an epic reverence of the Lord, as is illustrated when they sing of His glory in the form of Psalm 96:7-9. The words “give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength” and “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness’ ‘ are powerful when given the majestic musical backdrop of Peter Jonatan’s compositions. This section is followed by another mind-blowing jazz section that combines the power of the vocals with the busy action of jazz that’s short but sweet.
Psalms Symphony is a triumph. Peter Jonatan’s compositions are nothing short of breathtaking when combined with the masterful performance of the Metropole Orkest. From the top, the first tracks’ sense of playful curiosity proves to be just the tip of the iceberg that is Psalms Symphony. The combination of triumphant orchestral reverence with a wide breadth of jazz influences creates a fusion that must be experienced to be believed as it takes you on musical journeys full of emotion and wonder. Until you hear it, you won’t believe how compelling this mix can be.
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