New CD by flutist Jan Vinci

Jan Vinci

Flutist Jan Vinci, senior artist-in-residence in the Department of Music, has recorded a new CD, Global FluteScape: Premieres and Rare Gems (2007, Albany Records).

The album includes four premiere recordings and a number of rare works, and features compositions by composers Heinz Benker, Kazuo Fukushima, Jennifer Higdon, Rhen -Baton (Ren -Emmanuel B ton), Vittorio Rieti, Hseuh-Yung Shen, Norman Thibodeau, Mark Vinci, and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The assisting artists are Skidmore faculty member Mark Vinci, and from the Curtis Institute of Music, Hugh Sung and Jennifer Higdon.

One of the premieres is "When I See You" for flute and alto saxophone by Mark Vinci, commissioned especially for the project. Another, "And Then, Things Changed" for flute and piano by Hseuh-Yung Shen, received its performance premiere at Skidmore in February 2005.

American Record Guide (January/February 2008) writes, "This is a fabulous recording. Jan Vinci ... plays with control, color, and effortless technical facility. Her tone is beautiful, rich, and never out of tune. One can hear the indelible influence of Julius Baker, one of her primary teachers. Pianist Hugh Sung's graceful, colorful playing is a delightful match."

"I also enjoyed hearing individual pieces repeatedly," the reviewer continues, "especially the fine performance of the Benker, a piece that is hard to find. Flutists looking for new repertoire should hear this ... and anyone who enjoys superb music played with passion should find it. It is easily one of my favorite flute discs of the year."

The culmination of Vinci's sabbatical project, Global FluteScape: Premieres and Rare Gems was funded largely by Skidmore Faculty grants and a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The CD is available at the Skidmore Shop.

More at the Albany Records Web site and at Vinci's Web site. Audio excerpts here.