Rachel Barton Pine, Royal Scottish National Orchestra & Tito Muñoz - Dependent Arising (2023)

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine’s 24th recording for Cedille Records, Dependent Arising, reveals surprising confluences between classical and heavy metal music by pairing Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 with Earl Maneein’s “Dependent Arising” — Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under the baton of Tito Muñoz.

Known for her virtuosity, expressive playing, and extensive repertoire, Pine discovered her love for heavy metal as a teenager, and later performed at rock radio stations where she would intersperse covers of songs by Black Sabbath, AC/DC, and Metallica with works by Paganini and Ysaÿe.

The album explores connections between modern classical music and heavy metal and showcases Pine’s unique journey with these two seemingly disparate genres.

Now a staple of the classical concerto repertory, Shostakovich’s emotionally charged Violin Concerto No. 1 also holds a special place among metal enthusiasts, with its diverse movements ranging from haunting Nocturne to relentless Burlesque.

Earl Maneein is an acclaimed violinist and composer known for his unique and innovative fusion of western classical music, heavy metal, and hardcore punk. His “Dependent Arising” pushes the boundaries of traditional concerto composition and draws inspiration from the Western European classical music tradition, the world of “Extreme Metal,” and the composer’s practice as a Buddhist.

Both concertos explore themes of struggle, oppression, and defiance, which define Shostakovich’s oeuvre and resonate deeply with the essence of heavy metal music.

The album was produced by the Grammy-winning team of James Ginsburg and engineer Bill Maylone, with session engineering by the RSNO’s Hedd Morfett-Jones. It was recorded January 7–8, 2022 at Scotland’s Studio, Glasgow.

Tracklist
01. Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77: I. Nocturne
02. Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77: II. Scherzo
03. Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77: III. Passacaglia
04. Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77: IV. Burlesque
05. Maneein: Dependent Arising (Violin Concerto): I. Grasping at the self.
06. Maneein: Dependent Arising (Violin Concerto): II. The crows already knew of your grief
07. Maneein: Dependent Arising (Violin Concerto): Gate gate paragate…