Hannah Murphy’s “A Dream in the Forest” Is a Classical Guitar Fan’s Dream – Opinion

There’s a healing property in the classical guitar’s sound, a sound sorely needed in today’s world of government and media alike insisting the band play on and you’re a hater if you notice the ship is rapidly taking on water. It is more conducive to quiet contemplation than any other instrument, and its relative volume is noticeably less than that of organs or pianos. The late master Andrés Segovia said the guitar’s sound contained allusions to the flute, cello, and oboe, which is a matter of personal observation. The guitar is usually classical music’s odd man out, as unless it is by itself, it is almost impossible to hear, let alone properly.

Hannah Murphy is a young classical guitarist from Brooklyn. Having endured many Hannah Montana jokes over the years, she released her first CD last year. The Forest is a Dream. For those seeking a quiet moment, it’s well worth a listen.

Murphy’s playing is delicate without excessive preciousness. Her approach exudes warmth and humanity, rather than focusing on mechanical technology. It’s not that there is any sloppiness or discarded precision. Murphy adds a personal touch to the music. Murphy creates an easy charm that makes it more enjoyable to listen, which allows you to enjoy the music even more.

The CD mixes romantic and modern pieces, with the former’s compositional strength strongly outshining the latter. This is most noticeable in Nikita Koshkin’s “Usher Waltz,” allegedly inspired by Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Fall of The House of Usher.” Regrettably, after a promising beginning, its quick exhaustion of musical ideas and rapidly inserted substitution of demanding technique in lieu of anything to say makes it apparent any Poe-derived inspiration centers on emulating “The Tell-Tale Heart,” specifically its narrator. That said, Murphy’s sheer skill in wrestling the melodic out of a jumbled music mud pie makes it at least tolerable.

Many young classical musicians are emerging to the public’s attention in multiple fields. Many are represented by major classical labels while some, like Hannah Murphy, go the independent route. The Forest is a DreamIt is a delight to listen to from someone who has already earned it, and shows all signs of growing into something remarkable.

The CD is available on Murphy’s website and can be found on all major streaming and download sites.