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Press Releases
Guitarist Frederic Hand's 'Across Time': 'one you will likely return to often'
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Across Time: new album by guitarist and composer Frederic Hand
Compositions and performances span 40 years of Hand’s career
Released on ReEntrant, an imprint of New Focus Recordings, April 22, 2022
"A rare treat from a master" — Midwest Record Review
The guitarist and composer Frederic Hand was a student of the legendary classical guitarist Julian Bream, and has been the guitarist and lutenist at the Metropolitan Opera for nearly 40 years. “Across Time” (ReEntrant/New Focus, release date April 22, 2022), an album of original compositions, showcases four decades of Hand’s music. The selections demonstrate his inspirations from diverse traditions and his range of musical language.
His arrangement of Simple Gifts, the Shaker melody made famous by Aaron Copland’s masterpiece Appalachian Spring, reflects his emotional reaction upon hearing Copland’s setting for the first time.
Trilogy and Late One Night (1977) are the earliest works on this collection. They show off Hand’s compositional style, incorporating jazz rhythms and harmonies into classical forms. These tracks, originally on his album “Trilogy,” were recorded and released in 1982, and have been digitally remastered with 21st century technology.
On the other end of the timeline, Hand composed Renewal, Ballade for Astor Piazzolla and The Passionate Pilgrim in 2021. Three songs: A Poet’s Eye, I Am and There Is a Splendor, feature vocals by Lesley Hand, with texts by William Shakespeare and the Italian philosopher Marsilio Ficino. Cooper Lake was inspired by one of Hand’s favorite places to soak up the great natural beauty of the Catskills.
Contact ClassicalCommunications@gmail.com to request a physical CD or digital copy of this recording.
Across Time
ReEntrant/New Focus (REN02)
"This album is highly recommended and one you will likely return to often." — Cinemusical
Across Time
Guitar solos and songs by Frederic Hand
ReEntrant/New Focus (REN02)
Release date: April 22, 2022
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Biography
Classical guitarist and composer Frederic Hand has been praised by the New York Times for his “verve and spirit,” and his compositions have earned him an Emmy award and other distinctions. Appointed the Metropolitan Opera’s guitarist and lutenist in 1984, he has accompanied Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Renee Fleming. Guest appearances include the New York Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart Festival and The Waverly Consort.
Hand’s arrangement and onscreen performance of the theme for the film “Kramer vs. Kramer” led to his own best-selling recording, “Baroque and On the Street” (Sony). Hand’s playing and improvisations are heard in films with Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep. Jazzantiqua, his fusion band blending medieval, renaissance and jazz, has been called “scintillating and brilliant” by the New York Times.
His 2022 release Across Time is one of three albums of his compositions on New Focus Recordings. Hand’s discography also includes Jazzantiqua and Heart’s Song. His compositions have been performed and recorded by John Williams, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Paula Robison, Brasil Guitar Duo and Benjamin Verdery, among others.
For his recording and performances with flutist Paula Robison, he won the Classical Recording Foundation’s “Samuel Sanders Award.” Hand is recipient of a Fulbright scholarship and studied with the legendary guitarist Julian Bream.
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