 Voices from the Cloisters is the debut CD from Canadian composer/pianist Linda Shumas. Featuring 16 original piano compositions by Linda Shumas, Voices from the Cloisters is a wide tapestry of beautiful melodic music, rich in inventive harmonies and emotional expression. Performed by the composer, Voices from the Cloisters offers works of haunting beauty - the tender mood of "Positive Force", the dark tones of "Woods Music", the mystery of "Nocturne" all show Linda Shumas to be a composer and performer of originality and imagination, writing music that is meaningful and relevant to our times. Although primarily a solo piano CD, Voices from the Cloisters also features two special compositions - "Lotus Sandals" for Violin & piano, and the beautiful "Lullabye for Jessye Norman" for Soprano & piano. Linda Shumas has received great acclaim for her music - in 1978 she was awarded the Jean Coulthard Prize for Composition; in 1994 her music was the featured centerpiece of and award winning film by Paul Lee which was premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and later at the Barcelona Film Festival and New York Film Festivals. A superb pianist, Linda Shumas is one of the few composers today who perform their own music. As a performer, Linda Shumas has performed across North America at many high profile venues such as Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall, the Bohemian Embassy and others. Voices from the Cloisters is a wonderful collection of original music from a talented and exciting Canadian composer.
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"Though the cutlines reads classical, this isn't a collection of minatures from the classics, at least not yet; the compositions are, save an encore by Bach, all by Miss. Shumas, they could become classics after a passage of time, but for now they're original, wonderfully fresh, and well worth custom. The question begged after listening to the album is whether Linda Shumas is a tasteful composer who plays beautifully, or a fine pianist with a gift for delicate, all evocative of the titles such as The Moors, Dance of the Anemones, and the cover, to mention a few. Listening to them, one is mindful of Chopin and Debussy being performed by Alec Templeton. A kudo for Patricia Swan on Lullaby for Jessye Norman. This is an album that deserves to do well." | 1. Tree In the Sky
2. Bambi's Theme 3. Woods Music 4. Positive Force 5. Love Theme (from The Tale of Maureen) 6. The Moors 7. for Albeniz 8. Ruins 9. Voices from the Cloisters 10. The Hallway 11. Paranoia 12. Nocturne 13. Falling 14. Lotus Sandals 15. Dance of the Anemones 16. Lullabye for Jessye Norman Bonus
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