JOHANNA LUNDY

"Lundy is a fine player..."

Kilpatrick, American Record Guide [January/February 2019]

“At the heart of this programme is an impressively virtuoso performance, on unaccompanied horn, of Bach’s Solo Flute Partita, BWV1013. Johanna Lundy’s playing is simply breathtaking – it certainly left me breathless – whether in the elegance of the opening Allemande, the grace of the Courante and Sarabande or the bounce in the concluding Bourrée. Lundy almost convinces that the work was written for her instrument... Her virtuosity is apparent throughout the programme... MSR Classics’ sound is nicely done, Lundy perfectly placed (not too forward, not recessed). A rather fine disc.”

Guy Rickards, Gramophone [February 2018]

“While the music and Lundy’s virtuoso playing is entrancing by itself, it is obviously enhanced when it is put in context of the natural origins of the pieces... As I was driving in my car, listening for the first time to all these pieces, their context was indeed lost while the sounds from Lundy’s horn mixed with noise from my surroundings as I weaved through traffic. Later, I listened to the album in the quiet of my home with the help of Lundy’s videos to draw me more into her achievement as a musician and the work of the composers. Having been in the awesome landscapes of the Canyon Lands and the Arizona desert on a few different trips I remain intrigued by the music on this album they have inspired, especially the piece by Messiaen... Overall, it is delightful to hear an album devoted to the horn, because the horn is usually heard only in a supporting role in an orchestral piece.”

Joel C. Thompson, Cherry Grove Music Review [November 2018]

“As [a showcase] for instruments that are not usually thought of as 'showcase instruments' – that is, ones heard far less often in a front-and-center role than violin or piano – [this CD] give performers plenty of chances to show the breadth and depth of their instruments and the types of pieces designed to highlight their technique... Lundy’s ability to surmount the technical issues and make the music sound communicative is quite an accomplishment... everything here [is] played with sensitivity and tremendous skill.”

Mark J. Estren, InfoDad.com [December 2018]

“[Messiaen’s] piece is frightfully difficult. The requirements it gives the performer, which Lundy takes in stride, include flutter-tonguing, closed notes, glissandos, and faint oscillations made with the keys half-closed… [In J.S. Bach’s Partita in A minor] Lundy does her best work with the deeply affecting Sarabande…”

Phil Muse, Atlanta Audio Club [September 2018]

“[Lundy] left the audience in a state of near-euphoria”

Green Valley News

This recording is a project fifteen years in the making. It began with the discovery and exploration of several unaccompanied works from the contemporary horn repertoire, and grew to include three new works by composers from the Tucson area – Jay Vosk, Dan Coleman and Pamela Decker. Through the study and performance of this music, I fell in love with the genre. The unique medium of solo horn has the power to turn creative ideas into lyrical song, using the horn’s wide range of timbres and depth of sound to express emotions, stories, and landscapes. One particular goal of the project was to share the music through interactive, multi-media performances. In pursuit of that, I collaborated with several artists to create short films to be shown as visual accompaniment during performances. The images translate the musical stories and ideas into visual presentations – they clarify and magnify the message of the pieces. The videos can be found on my website, www.tucsonhorn.com. I hope the listener will enjoy this music as much as I do. [Johanna Lundy, July 2018]

Johanna Lundy is the principal horn of the Tucson Symphony, a position she has held since 2006. She has received critical acclaim for her robust sound and breathtaking performances. Known equally well as a soloist and recitalist, Lundy has appeared as a guest artist with the Aspen Music Festival, Grand Canyon Music Festival, Virginia Arts Festival, St. Andrew’s Bach Society, Tucson Symphony, Sierra Vista Symphony, and the Downtown Chamber Series in Phoenix among others. She has performed with ensembles across the United States, including The Florida Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, Albany Symphony, New Hampshire Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic, Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra and True Concord. For five seasons, she participated in the Aspen Music Festival, and for three in the Lucerne Festival Academy under the direction of Pierre Boulez. A dedicated teacher, Lundy is the Assistant Professor of Horn at the Fred Fox School of Music at the University of Arizona. Her former students have gone on to varied careers in music and positions with professional orchestras and other ensembles. She regularly presents master classes and has appeared at conferences and symposia. In 2010, Lundy was named one of Tucson’s “40 under 40” and in 2017 received a grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts to pursue a solo project focused on presenting contemporary repertoire and reaching new audiences. Passionate about sharing music with the world, she believes that connecting with audiences creates the ultimate opportunity to take part in deep, expressive experiences. Lundy holds a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music from New England Conservatory.
 
Violinist Ellen Chamberlain has performed across the United States and abroad, in orchestral and recital settings. In 2005, she was selected to perform for Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other Knesset members in Israel. Ellen is a member of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and has held the positions of Assistant and Associate Concertmaster. She is co-concertmaster of True Concord and has appeared with the St. Andrew’s Bach Society and Artifact Dance Project. Chamberlain received her Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University.
 
Violist Sarah Toy has been a member of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra since 2015. Prior to this position, she was a member of the Canton Symphony Orchestra. She has been featured as a musical guest on NPR’s Says You! and has performed with the Cleveland Chamber Music Society. Toy received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
 
Robert Chamberlain is an active cellist in the Southern Arizona region. He currently plays with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Opera and True Concord. As a chamber musician, Chamberlain has performed with the St. Andrew’s Bach Society, Greater Oro Valley Arts Council, and Cedar Valley Chamber Music Festival concert series, and is often heard on KUAT classical radio. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and Master’s Degree from Indiana University.
  OLIVIER MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
INTERSTELLAR CALL (from Des canyons aux étoiles…) (1974)

[WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING]
JAY VOSK (b.1948)
FANTASY PIECES (2016)
Steady
Spirited
Expressive
Presto

ESA-PEKKA SALONEN (b. 1958)
CONCERT ÉTUDE (2000)

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750) | Arranged: RONDEAU | Adapted: LUNDY
PARTITA IN A MINOR, BWV 1013 [originally for solo flute]
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Bourrée

[WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING]
DAN COLEMAN (b. 1972)
NIGHT STORM (2017)

BERNHARD KROL (1920-2013)
LAUDATIO (1966)

SIR PETER MAXWELL DAVIES (1934-2016)
SEA EAGLE (1982)
Adagio
Lento
Presto molto

[WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING]
PAMELA DECKER (b. 1955) | Arranged: LUNDY
CANYON SONGS for Horn and Strings (2017)



MSR Classics