All Aboard Rohan Kriwaczek's Ghost Train
Rohan Kriwaczek's Ghost Train is the last of three riveting CDs given to me by British composer Rohan Kriwaczek during a chance meeting at a Jewish Music Institute reception in the foyer of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, as part of their Musical Dialogues of East and West day of events at the QE Hall and Purcell Room in November 2004. The Wandering Jew and Rohan Kriwaczek and John Human's Salon Concert Music for Violin and Piano have already been reviewed.
Regrettably, no credits are given in the sleeve notes other than those for Kriwaczek as composer, nor is there any further information to be found on his web site. However, I think it reasonably safe to assume that all instruments are played by the composer himself.
Rohan Kriwaczek's Ghost Train is an extended work based on the composer's original score for Carnesky's Ghost Train, an installation/arthouse funfair ride by performance artist Marisa Carnesky first seen at Truman's Brewery in London's East End in 2004, and subsequently traveling before becoming a fixture at Blackpool's Winter Gardens. The original soundtrack is appended to the other sixteen tracks of this album.
As Kriwaczek suggests, Rohan Kriwaczek's Ghost Train is perhaps best listened to at night by the light of a candle, or even in the dark. While not essential, this certainly does enhance the experience, making it somehow more intense.
The score includes a miscellany of delicious sound effects, forming a perfect marriage with the music. Rohan Kriwaczek's Ghost Train could well be the soundtrack of a film noire and shows the composer at his most experimental out of the three albums reviewed. He gives his imagination free rein and masterfully plays upon that of the listener. While dark, this music is so because the subject requires it, and only where it is required. Undoubtedly haunting, it is also hauntingly beautiful. Like the original score for Carnesky's Ghost Train, it is perfection for its subject matter. The genius lies is Kriwaczek's ability to combine the experimental with complete accessibility.
Rohan Kriwaczek's Ghost Train is a chilling delight, full of the macabre and incongruous. It ought to have a firm favourite place in any collection of contemporary classical as well as sound track music.
© 2006 Rainlore's World of Music/Rainlore. All rights reserved.
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