[Coll]: Nigel Kennedy, The Four Elements (Violin, Orchestra and Voice)
Label: Sony Classical 2011


British violinist, Nigel Kennedy, composed The Four Elements for violin, orchestra, band and voices in response to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, his recording of which sold 2 million copies. Like Vivaldi’s baroque masterpiece, Kennedy’s composition is programmatic, pictorial music based on an underlying theme: the four elements that the ancient Greeks and Romans believed were the fundamental building blocks of nature.

1. (8:54) Overture. Caravan music, driving rhythm, brings to mind views of earth from a speeding airplane. Cowboy, jazz, electronic mix.
2. (11:15) Air. Starts with a haunting violin passage, and moves through blues, cool dance grooves and hints of Oriental melodies.
3. (5:26) Earth. 4/4 Funky blues sung by male voice, reaching passionate intensity and slowly fading away.
4. (7:10) Fire. Powerful funky riffs contrast with a blend of violins, keyboards, female voices and percussion.
5. (6:19) Water. Brief intro images of a swamp, then sweet young women sing, followed by guitar improvisation that is not always diatonic; finally, a stream flows out of the swamp into a far distance.
6. (18:19) Finale. Begins with a broody motif played by piano and acoustic violins, moves through speedy unison passages, reflective vocal interludes and pastoral violin themes, climaxing in a frantic electric hoedown.
7. (2:25) Encore (It’s Plucking Elemental). 1950s style pop, gruff male voice backed by sweet female chorus. Comic, rhyming lyric.