Artist: Bogdan Ota
Album: Day of Wrath
Review by Andrea Guy
At first listen Day Of
Wrath may seem like a score to an action film, or some supernatural flick
where evil is out to ruin the world.
Storms seem to be brewing in
the first notes of "Black Friday." It is obvious that this piece is
about something more ominous than the start of the holiday shopping season. The
music is a reflection of several points of history, Good Friday included where
bloody acts took place on a Friday.
The music is dark and sinister
sounding. It creates a mood that let's you know that death is near.
"Mourning" is the
next piece. The piano and strings convey the sadness of the song. It truly
brings forth the feelings of those grieving the loss of a loved one, in the
case of this song, Jesus.
The title track is truly
fearsome and at times soothing. "The Day Of Wrath" is about The
Judgment Day. The first half of the song perfectly illustrates the destruction
of the world as we know it. The melody is fierce and dark. About midway
through, the music shifts to something lighter where paradise has been found
and sorrow will cease.
All of the music on Day Of
Wrath is emotionally driven and powerful. "The Story Of My Life"
is one such piece. The brass and the percussion are so strong at times, you can
feel your heartbeat quicken just listening.
"Glimpse of
Happiness" is a turning point in the tone of the music. The music is a
reflection of love in the course of ones life. The melody is soothing and the
piano is the perfect instrument to reflect that emotion.
Perhaps after you glimpse
happiness, you'll need "Solitude" to take it all in. The
instrumentation on this song is very simple and very solitary to begin with. As
it progresses the melody becomes more intense and complex.
"Harald's Dream" is
a song that tells a story on its own. It is based on a love story between a
prince of Avar and a beautiful princess with golden hair.
"Fantasy For Piano and
Orchestra" is just as it sounds, a beautiful piece of music that takes the
listener to a land of happily ever after. It is a dreamy sounding song full of
hope and possibilities. The music seems to spill out in waves.
As much as
"Fantasy" is full of hope, "Reverie" is full of reflection.
It is a quieter piece, almost somber, but not quite, with the piano again in
the forefront. The melody is somber, which is perfect for looking back on
things that once were or could've been. Bogdan, describes it as looking at door
that is forever shut.
Edgar Allen Poe's poem of the
same name is the inspiration for "A Dream Within A Dream." When you
think of Poe, you think of things of a darker, spookier nature, yet this song
is light, with a relaxing melody. The sweeping melody speaks of a perfect love
that doesn't exist
Just as the album opens a
crash of thunder rolls by in the opening strains of "Sahara." This is
a haunting middle eastern melody. It is
a touch of world music, on an album that is primarily orchestral.
Each piece of music found on Day
of Wrath is full of emotion and tells a story. This is more than just
instrumental music that can play idly in the background. Bogdan Ota has created
a masterpiece of sound that fills your ears with breathtaking beauty. This is
music that you can't forget once you've heard it, and once you've heard it, you'll
want to play it again and again.
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