Dreamers Jeffrey Jacob

• Jeffrey Jacob (b. 1953): Symphony No. 5 (Dreamers):
• 1Symphony No. 5 (Dreamers): I. Rain, Lagrimas05:47
• 2Symphony No. 5 (Dreamers): II. Fear, Grace05:51
• 3Symphony No. 5 (Dreamers): III. Separation, Grief, Resolution, Triumph08:00
• Sanctuary I:
• 4Sanctuary I06:13
• Adagietto:
• 5Adagietto06:38
• Epitaph (In Memoriam):
• 6Epitaph (In Memoriam)10:22
• The Persistance of Memory:
• 7The Persistance of Memory: I. Haunting, Pagan, Restless08:42
• 8The Persistance of Memory: II. Misterioso, Resolution, Ecstasy07:23
• Final Sanctuary:
• 9Final Sanctuary07:02
• Total Runtime01:05:58

Info for Dreamers

In 2016, composer and pianist Jeffrey Jacob conducted interviews with children of illegal immigrants, whose plight ended up inspiring the pianist's fifth symphony. Remarkably for a contemporary composition, the work is quite condensed timewise; nevertheless, it packs the whole gamut of human sentiment, with the movements titled I. Lagrimas [Tears], II. Fear; Grace, and III. Separation, Grief; Resolution, Triumph.

Next up are three works for piano and orchestra, with Jacob at the piano. His clarity of tone is striking and the perfect fit for his own compositions. For a 20th-century composer, Jacob's music is surprisingly tonal. The sound is unique and evocative; had Olivier Messiaen studied with Rachmaninoff, the Adagietto from Jacob's Piano Concerto No. 2 might well be the result. Epitaph (In Memoriam) is fittingly epic for its title and, in style, highly reminiscent of Shostakovich's piano concertos. A highlight of the album, however, appears in the form of the two-movement The Persistence of Memory, in which Jacob shifts his aim from the 20th to the mid-19th century. After a modern introduction, the listener is greeted with a quotation of Schumann's Fantasy Dance, and the beautifully lamenting solo cello contrasted with lyrical piano lines is a direct reminder of the German composer's Piano Trio No. 2.

Lastly, the pianist harks back to the centerpiece of DREAMERS, his symphony: a lone oboe interspersed with electronics brings both the album and the fifth symphony's subject to a close. The outward circumstances have not changed; but the intangible remains the same.

Jeffrey Jacob, piano, oboe & electronics
Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
Jiří Petrdlík, conductor Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber OrchestraDaniel Spalding, conductor Moscow Symphony OrchestraJoel Spiegleman, conductor Hradec Králové Philharmonic OrchestraJon Mitchell, conductor Cleveland Chamber SymphonyEdwin London, conductor

Jeffrey Jacob
Described by the Warsaw Music Journal as “unquestionably one of the greatest performers of 20th century music,” and the New York Times as “an artist of intense concentration and conviction,” Jeffrey Jacob received his education from the Juilliard School (Master of Music) and the Peabody Conservatory (Doctorate) and counts as his principal teachers, Mieczyslaw Munz, Carlo Zecchi, and Leon Fleisher. Since his debut with the London Philharmonic in Royal Festival Hall, he has appeared as piano soloist with over 25 orchestras internationally including the Moscow, St. Petersburg, Seattle, Portland, Indianapolis, Charleston, Saõ Paulo and Brazil National Symphonies, the Silesian, Moravian, and North Czech Philharmonics, and recently, the London Symphony and the New Jersey Philharmonic. A noted proponent of contemporary music, he has performed the world premieres of works written for him by George Crumb, Vincent Persichetti, Gunther Schuller, Samuel Adler, Francis Routh, and many others. He has performed solo recitals in London, Dublin, Glasgow, Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Prague, Warsaw, Bucharest, Milan, Madrid, Helsinki, Rio de Janeiro, Saõ Paulo, Havana, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Jakarta, Tokyo, Sydney, Auckland, Toronto, Ottawa, and throughout the U.S.

Mr. Jacob has recorded over 120 works for solo piano and piano and orchestra including his critically acclaimed series of CDs of the complete piano music of Samuel Barber and George Crumb and major works of Bela Bartok. Fanfare Magazine recently devoted a feature article to his series of CDs for New Ariel Recordings entitled “Contemporary American Eclectic Music for the Piano.” Additionally, he has made radio recordings for Radio Warsaw, Radio Prague, and Brazil National Radio, as well as a series of recordings of American music for the BBC.

As a composer, he has written four symphonies, three piano concertos, and numerous works for piano and chamber ensemble. Raymond Leppard and the Indianapolis Symphony premiered his Symphony: Winter Lightning. The London Symphony recorded his Symphony No. 3. The Moscow and St. Petersburg Symphonies premiered respectively his Piano Concertos 1 and 2 with the composer as soloist. The Gregg Smith Singers premiered his Sleeping at Last for mixed chorus and solo cello. Mr. Jacob’s Persistence of Memory was premiered by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony at the 1999 College Music Society National Convention, and was selected by the Charles Ives Center for American Music for a performance by the Charleston Symphony at the 2002 Charleston Spoleto Festival. Other works have been premiered and recorded by the Orquesta de Baja California, the Chamber Orchestra of the Rhein, the North Czech Philharmonic, the Cavani Quartet and sopranos Mary Nessinger and Laurel Thomas. Two CDs of Mr. Jacob’s orchestral music have been released by Centaur Records and Vienna Modern Masters, and recordings of individual works appear on several labels including Albany, Opus One, Capstone, and New Ariel. Currently Emeritus Professor at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, he recently received the Artist of the Year Award from the International New Music Consortium at New York University for his work as composer, pianist and educator.

This album contains no booklet.