The past four years have seen dramatic crests and troughs within society, from the dark lows at the heart of the global pandemic to the renewed sense of vigor and joy that has blossomed following the extinguishing of that crisis. Throughout these four years, musicians in particular have adapted and expressed themselves in newfound and creative ways, oftentimes speaking for broader groups by means of their personal experiences. Flutist Yulia Musayelyan is one such musician who, in the midst of the turbulence and emotional ebbs and flows of the times, found freedom in expression.
Starting with smaller projects, Musayelyan and her partner, bassist Fernando Huergo, began recording duo arrangements of songs and sharing these home recordings on social media as a way of connecting with loved ones during isolated and chaotic times. This creative flow, much of which involved exploring and arranging Argentinian folk songs, became a writing exercise that launched Musayelyan toward creating a new album. The album, entitled Strange Times, is a musical chronicle of Musayelyan’s experience in and through the pandemic, comprising original works and arrangements that reflects her individual feelings during this time and the wider pulse of society as the world traveled from uncertainty to hope and back.
The phrase “Strange Times” was chosen for the album’s title as an apt summary for the confusion that engulfed the globe in a time that was unlike any other in living memory. “The title is a recognition that it will take us – people, individually, and humanity as a whole – some time to make any sense of the impact of living through these deeply unsettling times,” Musayelyan says. However, despite the seemingly hesitant spirit the title connotes, the bandleader remarks that this album is filled with an elated sense of possibility. The pieces, which were written almost entirely in isolation, have a limitlessness to them that comes with the territory of new works that have only just begun to be performed live. “This album feels like a new friendship,” Musayelyan says. “I’m excited about getting to play these tunes more – to get to know them, start to take more risks – individually as a soloist and together as a group, and see where it takes us sonically.”
The music heard on Strange Times was composed across four years, from the beginning of the pandemic and into the rebuilding of society of the present. Many of the album’s darker-toned pieces were composed during the peaks of uncertainty and unrest during 2020 and 2021 specifically and reflect the turbulence that was felt throughout broader society. Other pieces, however, mirror the rising hope that many experienced as things began to look brighter.
“Rothko Sketches” is the album’s opening track and is also the first piece in compositional chronology. Emotively capturing the darker feelings held at the beginning of the pandemic, this piece drew inspiration from a kindred emotion, manifested in the dark colors and hues used in the later paintings of artist Mark Rothko. “Perugia at Night” was written three years later, in July 2023, following the flutist’s visit to the Italian city of Perugia. Soaking in the late night walks through the etruscan architecture and arches and the beauty of the empty silence of the ancient streets proved a powerful muse. Musayelyan evokes the somber wonder of these midnight strolls through a unique sonic palette that features bass flute and Huergo’s melodic bass solo.
The tracks “Carnavalito”, “Oración del Remanso”, “Parte del Aire”, and “Zamba de Usted” all pay homage to the traditional folk styles of South America, and more specifically of Argentina. “Oración del Remanso” is a modern Argentinian folk song in the style of chamamé, composed by Jorge Fandermole. Using an 11/8 adaptation of the traditional 6/8 style, Musayelyan reimagines the piece, freed up rhythmically and melodically unbound from the metrics of the lyric. “Carnavalito” is named after the carnavalito musical style from northern Argentina and Bolivia. Similarly to “Perugia at Night”, this piece was inspired by a series of walks, this time taken through a nearby park at the start of the pandemic. While examining the intricate details and infinite splits within the veins of the myriad tree leaves, Musayelyan contemplated the nature of decisions and possibilities. “I was thinking about how every decision leads to something, and about the endless other possibilities not taken, all the what ifs in life, and what that would sound like,” Musayelyan explains.
With the majority of the pieces on the album being either Musayelyan’s original compositions or original arrangements, a great amount of trust is bestowed by her upon her ensemble to bring this music to life true to her vision. More than that, the flutist chose her ensemble not simply to read parts with excellence – although they undoubtedly do so – but to embody each part with the players’ unique personality. The ensemble on Strange Times comprises Yulia Musayelyan (flute, bass flute), Maxim Lubarsky (piano), Fernando Huergo (bass), and Mark Walker (drums). “I trust these musicians with my music and value what they bring to the group sound,” Musayelyan says. “Playing music with others, especially improvised music, is a very special experience – a balance between being open and vulnerable while being solid in what you contribute and flexible in where things might go in a performance.”
Strange Times is a chronicle of recent times that details powerful events, places, and emotions. Armed with masterful composition, diverse sonic palettes, and an integrity of heart that speaks to the core of her listeners, Musayelyan portrays the global and personal in a way that feels unequivocally human.
Strange Times releases on Wherego Music on November 15th, 2024.
