This album has two pieces: The first section is "Hearts Don't Break That Easily," a gorgeous work for solo voice. The second, "Anna," is a string quartet's improvisation using the first piece's melodies as a starting point. Gisburg fills the first piece with her songs, spoken moments, and melodies that, combined with the intimate acoustics, dig in close to the heart. Her clear, grounded voice, together with her high range and sweeping delivery, create a sound that could just as likely be coming from a singing violin as from a human. Without affect, and unaccompanied, Gisburg sings the emotions and thoughts of being distraught by heartbreak, and the healing process that follows in its wake. Introspective and mournful, Gisburg delivers the lines through beautiful melodies that range from operatic to pop-reminiscent. Released from obsession by the end of the story's meditations, her voice lifts, rising to close on a quietly hopeful note. The Cassatt String Quartet then takes melodic fragments from the previous songs, using them as a starting ideas for improvisations. Slowly telling an age-old story, the strings improvise a woven ring of music with fluttering mournful ribbons tied on. Patiently dynamic, the mood subtly lightens and lifts as the piece winds toward resolution.
© Joslyn Layne /TiVo