Grace Like A River - Christopher Parkening

Grace Like A River - Christopher Parkening

A tie-in with Parkening’s similarly titled autobiography, this disc samples some of the guitarist’s "greatest hits" and includes two tracks of special interest: a preview of a forthcoming release and a rarity from his youth. Parkening’s fans will find the latter fascinating. Dating from 1963, it features the 15-year old soloist in his orchestral concert debut in a very respectable performance of a movement from Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Guitar Concerto No. 1. The preview is a live excerpt from Carlo Domeniconi’s <i>Koyunbaba</i> that whets the appetite for more of this Italian composer’s Turkish-influenced music. The rest of the disc abounds in previously release, wonderfully executed virtuoso guitar pieces that are display pieces for the instrument at its most expressive. There are Bach arrangements, a generous selection of Spanish works, and the slow movement from Elmer Bernstein’s Guitar Concerto. This disc is a must for Parkening’s fans and an excellent introduction to classical guitar for the rest of us. <i>-- Dan Davis </i>