From Silence to Sorcery is an album of contemporary classical music by John Zorn which features three instrumental works touching upon themes of magic and mysticism. "Goetia" is a set of variations for solo violin written in 2002. "Gris-Gris" (2000) is a work for thirteen tuned drums performed by William Winant inspired by the music of Korean Shamanism, Haitian Voodoo and a scene from Howard Hawks’ classic film To Have and Have Not. Scored for clavichord, three muted strings and percussion, 'Shibboleth" (1997) is a tribute to the Jewish poet Paul Celan.[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]

The Allmusic review by Stephen Eddins awarded the album 4½ stars stating "it's notable for the variety of its sonorities, for its disciplined economy, and for the integrity of the evocative sound world he creates".[2]

Writing for All About Jazz, Troy Collins commented "A remarkably restrained effort in contrast with his usual output, Zorn again proves his creative viability as a post-modern renaissance man with a sublime collection of chamber music".[3]

Track listing

All compositions by John Zorn

  1. "Goetia I" - 0:57
  2. "Goetia II" - 2:46
  3. "Goetia III" - 1:07
  4. "Goetia IV" - 1:42
  5. "Goetia V" - 1:12
  6. "Goetia VI" - 1:54
  7. "Goetia VII" - 2:53
  8. "Goetia VIII" - 1:20
  9. "Gris-Gris" - 9:41
  10. "Shibboleth: I Abglanzbeladen/II Im Leeren (In Empty Space)/III Mandelnde (Almond-like)/IV Hinterlassne (Left Back)/V Etwas Wie Nacht (Something Like Night)/VI Aus Verlorem (From Things Lost)" - 12:37

Personnel

References

  1. ^ Tzadik catalogue
  2. ^ a b Eddins, S. Allmusic Review accessed October 23, 2013
  3. ^ Collins, T. All About Jazz Review, July 6, 2007.
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