Pauline Frechette’s latest collection of neo-classical compositions reminds me of the first time I walked through the streets of
Paris. Sure, I had an idea of what I would see, but there was nothing that could have prepared me for the fantastic and magical atmosphere of that city. Frechette’s work has a similar magic. It transports the listener to a higher plane and enriches the soul in a way that only great art can.
The compositions, on An Intimate Story, satisfy the 21st-century need for private inspiration and warm flow. They are sophisticated and cultured works that leave the listener buoyed and satisfied. Fused with a glowing romanticism, the music on this album reveals Frechette as one of the great talents of our time. This music reflects a life lived with deep passion, love, and courage.
Pauline has an immense talent for expressing a wide range of emotion and continues to excel at finding new and interesting ways of weaving the various elements of her compositions together. This is evident on “Ice Storm”: the eighth track on An Intimate Story. What takes other composers twenty minutes to express, Pauline delivers in a little over three. I was enthralled by this song. The range of feeling Frechette explores on it is staggering. The vision required to give continuity to a piece like this is truly amazing. Frechette finds ways to address the most delicate of emotions and through ingenious transitions takes the listener into the most lush and vigorous movements. I didn’t know what hit me the first time I listened to this song. It’s truly exceptional.
The instrumentation for An Intimate Story consists of a single piano which Frechette employs to express a wide range of emotion all while maintaining an up-close connection with her listener. The sparse production of this album speaks to the power and quality of the compositions. One can only imagine how many ideas were left on the cutting room floor to get to the 12 gems found on An Intimate Story. When a piece of music can move you this deeply with a single piano, you know you’re dealing with something special.
More than simply expressing emotion, Frechette’s contemporary-classical miniatures tell a story. The album is a journey into the heart, soul, and mind of Frechette. It’s an experience that leaves you with a deeper understanding of the artist and of life in general. I say “life in general” because we all mirror each other in one way or another. When an artist like Frechette tells her story, it helps us find our own. It helps us remember we’re all at the center of a narrative called life. Listening to this album is an inspiration because it gives us permission to go live daring and courageous lives of our own.
One of my favorite things about Pauline’s music is that it’s never one dimensional. Nothing she does is just happy or just sad. All of Frechette’s work has layers of emotion. Whether it’s the aggressive sections of “I Dream of Old Russia” contrasted with its sparkling and dreamy sections. Or, the joy, sorrow, and mystery that runs through a song like “Jewel Box”. These dynamics are part of why Frechette’s music rings so true.
Like all high art, An Intimate Story expresses something about what life is like. This is always the case when an artist tells the truth through their work. In this case Frechette is using the piano to express it. This is something the listener feels even if they can’t articulate it. One knows when someone is being honest with them. Pauline employs the eighty eight keys of the piano to bare her soul and tell the truth. Listening to the music is all the evidence you’ll need to confirm this. You can find it on Spotify, Reverbnation, Soundcloud, Apple Music, Google Music or wherever digital music is sold. You can learn more about Pauline and also purchase CDs and Music Books directly from her web site: paulinefrechette.com