Hans Anderson is a great candidate because he doesn't shy away from the issues! But he manages to do it with a light touch. He uses the story of a dream as tool to examine an old, central question. And the piece gave me a new appreciation for music I hadn't liked before.
“Hard to Say” is a bittersweet experience. It is sentimental, but in a way that draws you in. The speaker is so earnest and dignified that his story feels highly relevant and close to home to a person of any age (at least it did to me, and I am in my early 20s). It left me staring out the window for a while.
This piece seamlessly combines a political statement and a family portrait. The characters, especially the matriarch, are well-developed and engaging. Their struggle against a globalized market is not painted in maudlin tones, nor is it made to seem overly optimistic – Marya lets both their worries and their strength of spirit come through clearly. The sound is textured and small touches, like the smoking of a cigarette or a cup of coffee being poured, give vivid account of a day spent with the Marchellattas.
Comments by Anna Goldman
Comment for "Hell's Bells"
Anna Goldman
Posted on August 24, 2004 at 09:53 PM | Permalink
Review of Hell's Bells
Hans Anderson is a great candidate because he doesn't shy away from the issues! But he manages to do it with a light touch. He uses the story of a dream as tool to examine an old, central question. And the piece gave me a new appreciation for music I hadn't liked before.
Comment for "Hard to Say"
Anna Goldman
Posted on July 02, 2004 at 06:47 AM | Permalink
Review of Hard to Say
“Hard to Say” is a bittersweet experience. It is sentimental, but in a way that draws you in. The speaker is so earnest and dignified that his story feels highly relevant and close to home to a person of any age (at least it did to me, and I am in my early 20s). It left me staring out the window for a while.
Comment for "A Family Yarn"
Anna Goldman
Posted on July 01, 2004 at 08:51 AM | Permalink
Review of A Family Yarn
This piece seamlessly combines a political statement and a family portrait. The characters, especially the matriarch, are well-developed and engaging. Their struggle against a globalized market is not painted in maudlin tones, nor is it made to seem overly optimistic – Marya lets both their worries and their strength of spirit come through clearly. The sound is textured and small touches, like the smoking of a cigarette or a cup of coffee being poured, give vivid account of a day spent with the Marchellattas.