Raynald Grenier - For the Sake of the Kingdom
Classical, Easy Listening, Dream Mood
Quebec City, Canada
Overall Impression: Bearing all of the bravado of a conclusive statement, "For the Sake of the Kingdom", from Raynald Grenier's Beth & Noa, begins as a somber sort of march, descends into silence and then expands into a thunderous and brassy exposition. Quickly, then, listeners are taken into a much more somber and pensive space as themes are revisited and resolved as the piece pivots into a mounting sense of tension and tragedy - concluding the tale with a dramatic sense of irresolution before transitioning into the ballet's epilogue.
Strongest Point(s): The dramatic arc taken in "For the Sake of the Kingdom" showcases Grenier's passion and patience for the craft - managing to pack a sprawling narrative into only seven and a half minutes of music! The use of different instrumental textures for different iterations brings the world to vibrant life in the listener's mind and establishes a visceral sense of plot and narrative development. Brief figures like the chromatically descending trumpet at 2:34 and the subsequent crescendo into a recapitulation of the theme, as well as the solo clarinet at 3:40, make full use of orchestral voicing and texture to immerse listeners in the space, and stand as a testament to Raynald Grenier's considerable skill! Excellent use of choral voicing in the piece's final moments as well!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Classical composition and richly dramatic instrumental narratives will appreciate the entirety of Beth & Noa, and "For the Sake of the Kingdom" is an integral component of that broader tapestry! Impassioned and impressive, "For the Sake of the Kingdom" is a glimpse into the creative prowess of Raynald Grenier and an enthralling piece of compositional artistry! - Jon W.
Artist target suggestions: Howard Shore, Eric Whitacre, Ola Gjeilo, Russell Brower, Jason Hayes, Sam Cardon, Motoi Sakuraba, Glenn Stafford, Justin Bell, Uka Kitamura, Marcin Przybyลowicz, Olivier Deriviere, Eimear Noone, Yugo Kanno, Neal Acree, Matt Uelmen, Austin Wintory, Christopher Larkin, John Powell, Gavin Greenaway
Interested in having your Song Reviewed by our Professional Staff? Head to your RadioAirplay.com dash and click Song Reviews under the Special Offers menu!
About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field. Working with musicians and their individual sounds is his passion and profession, and he strives to interact with and understand every aspect of the production process - from theory and songwriting to recording and mastering. He continues to teach students of all ages and is currently collaborating with artists across a wide range of genres.