London, 2024

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Nick Ballen is an American composer based in Chicago, who specialises in composing music in the classical tradition. A self-taught pianist and composer, he devotes much of his work to the European style of the 18th century. His Collection of Shorter Works gathers some of his finest pieces around this aesthetic; though diverse in style, instrumentation and form. A capsule in time, his music is reminiscent of Mozart, Haydn and earlier Beethoven works. This selected compendium of works feels at times like an exercise in composing for the classical repertoire and looking at all the forms available; the overture, the allegro, the minuet, the rondo etc. However, there is much more to it, including some works which surprise, particularly in their creative approach to this classical tradition. 

 

Collection of Shorter Works starts with an “Overture in G Major”, very much in the classical tradition, and performed by the Campus Musical de Buenos Aires. It is a lovely moment back in time and introduces well the spirit of the project. The piece is not only perfectly structured and balanced, but also wonderfully executed. It is then followed by an “Allegro in F Major” performed by Haley Myles, which once again brings to mind the tradition of Mozart’s and Beethoven’s piano sonatas — with a few elegant harmonic surprises. The “Minuet in B-Flat Major for Four Horns”, performed by Tomas Figuero, is one of the most interesting pieces of Collection of Shorter Works. If it still remains strongly anchored in the classical tradition it approaches a quartet configuration which is often underused and the arrangement is wonderful. “Rondo in D Major for two clarinets”, performed by Hannah Gobbett, is a delightful piece. The clarinet in this tradition is often a wonder to listen to, and it is indeed the case with this rondo. The “Sonatina in E Major”, in two parts — first an allegro and then a minuet and trio — is once again performed by Haley Myles. Altogether, and as it is often the case with classical music, much of it is joyful, bright and energetic. Ballen captures the lightness and entertainment element of the period very well. The “Fantasy in D”, for Sundry string quartet, is perhaps the most modern and inventive of all the pieces of Collection of Shorter Works. It plays with contemporary concepts, with interesting thematic developments and a desire to be more on the tangent. “Song Cycle” is written for chamber ensemble — Sundry again — and has a certain nostalgia, a melancholy of the halcyon days. Alongside the previous piece, it is some of the most interesting material as it steers away from the classical tradition to venture in more adventurous territories, whilst still maintaining a strong sense of tonality. 

 

Ballen’s Collection of Shorter Works is indeed quite surprising — and perhaps unique in a way too — project. It feels like a glimpse in the past and it is fantastically executed; whether from a compositional perspective, or from the performances themselves. However, behind this initial layer anchored in the classical tradition, there are some works which point in another direction — and they are perhaps the ones that are making this release even more interesting. Collection of Shorter Works is really well produced too, and certainly balances the contemporary sound of the composer’s time with the past aesthetics of his inspirations.