Love Letters by Barbara Dennerlein

The recipient of many prizes and awards for her music, Barbara Dennerlein knows the value of maintaining a close and direct contact with her audience.

On nine original tracks, the music of "Love Letters" (Barbara Dennerlein’s duo CD released in 2001) reveals a nuanced self-portrait. It is an impressive display of Dennerlein as both a brilliant composer and gifted musician. The music on this album abounds with creative ingenuity. Yet a vital element in her approach to music involves a sense of well-being. This is not to say that hers is a comfortably laid-back approach; her music reflects the rich variety of life and covers the full spectrum of emotions – from the tranquillity of romantic moods to explosive power driven solos, from somber contemplation to ecstasy.

The ”Love Letters” titles reflects the live character of this music, which was recorded in much the same way in which Barbara Dennerlein and her Argentinian drummer, Daniel Messina perform in concert: there is an intense concentration on the multitude of sound combinations to be created but at the same time a very relaxed atmosphere of spontaneous communication.

With compositions, specially created for this album, the organist tells stories, which allow the listeners to exercise their imaginations. Individual sounds and melodies are intensified into chords and multi-layered sound patterns and a variety of influences blend together to create music which is completely original.

The duo’s music is the product of six intensive years of working together and it is quite evident that the two have achieved a high level of compatibility, nurtured by mutual inspiration, which at times makes them sound like a large orchestra. By using two manuals, synthesizer and a foot pedal technique which has been developed to the point of perfection, Barbara Dennerlein not only creates fine melodic lines and rich chords, but she also knows how to build bass figures which have all the refined flexibility of a double bass.

In his accompaniment, Daniel Messina alternates between straight rhythmic backing and the use of complex percussive patters and a wide variety of moods.

The album is a declaration of love by Barbara Dennerlein for her audience and for her music - music which engenders good feelings in both creator and listener.

Bert Noglik

translation: Lisa Boulton

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