Composer Pauline Frechette returns to us once again with the dynamic and thunderous instrumental offering that is “Ice Storm.” Pardon the pun but I can say with all honesty that Frechette comes baring gifts this holiday season. The piece is epic!
If I may, allow me to paint a picture here. A gentle build up of strings playing in unison sets the tone and a beautifully lush bed of sound is created as a result. Sitting on top is a small collection of horns playing out a simple but infectious melody.
All is calm. All is quiet.
Additional strings join in now. Playing a supporting role in a slightly different way as their tightly played, pizzicato-style passages serve as a satisfying call to the horn section’s robust response.
Already, there is some great musical interplay happening and I’ve barely reached the 20 second mark of the piece. You can imagine the small particles of snow and ice hitting your window.
Things softly build as a gentle wave of sound begins to fill up the room I’m sitting in. The delicate nature of the arrangements coupled with the exquisite use of dynamics makes me think of the first snow fall in winter. The sound to me is like the calm before the storm and a full personification of it. Its as if I’m invited to observe in great detail up close as the first few flakes of snow touch down onto the ground. Hints of tension are peppered in but quickly give way to a sublime cascading of sounds that you really just want to let wash over you.
Then comes the storm…
Things suddenly take a turn for the dramatic at this point as themes of impending danger, unpredictability, and sheer wonderment all come to a head. The paradox of beauty and chaos intertwined in nature becomes exemplified as huge staccato stabs from the string section rip through the calm.
The unsettling yet undeniably exciting shift in tone is further accentuated by the horn section as a pleasantly monstrous amount of low end permeates through my speakers. Meanwhile, the crashing of cymbals house the truly visceral attack of the string section to create a level of bombast that I can say with all confidence would easily have a home in the Heavy Metal genre. Make no mistake, there are indeed some incredibly heavy moments in “Ice Storm” as the instruments come together and burst apart once again personifying the sheer power of nature.
Simply put, if you enjoy music regardless of what your preferred genre is, I challenge you to listen to '"Ice Storm." Treat yourself right now and have a listen.
About Pauline Frechette
PaulineFrechette comes from a family of composers/musicians. Her great-grandfather, Josef Vezina founded the Quebec Symphony. From an early age, Pauline was playing violin in youth orchestras and winning piano competitions. As a composer, her musicals have been produced in NYC and L.A.
Her compositions have been performed by the Baltimore Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, New West Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Pauline has sung on film scores, including “Rent” and “Aladdin” and performed with many legendary artists including Paul McCartney, Cher, Willie Nelson, Muse (for the 2012 Olympics), Leonard Cohen and duets with Neil Diamond.
Her last three albums debuted in the Top Ten on Billboard’s Classical and Classical Cross-over charts. Her music is currently played in over 150 countries and has over 20 million hits collectively on Spotify, Soundcloud, Reverbnation, iTunes and Amazon. Pauline’s Suite for Orchestra and Ballet had its world premier in 2021 with the New West Symphony. Her “A Winter’s Tale” (Suite for Orchestra) will be performed by the Channel Island Chamber Orchestra, Dec. ’22.
Pauline won the Gold Award for “Best Instrumental” and “Best Adult Contemporary Song” in the 2022 W.A.M. International Music Competition.
For more information on Pauline Frechette, please visit her website.
#IceStorm #PaulineFrechette
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