Sean Hickey: Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind, for the piano

by Vladimir Rumyantsev

Overview

One may look at the eight movements of this work by composer Sean Hickey and wonder how "a brief history of humankind" can possibly be reduced to the concepts of Pre-History, Lascaux, Fertile Crescent, Jericho, Mean Temperament, Double Helix, Confirmation Bias, and Commonwealth. On top of that, how these concepts, which embody distinctively human forms of understanding and imagination, might be realized in music. The answers to the first puzzle can be found in the book on which Hickey's concept is based, with the same title as the album. For the second, Hickey provides helpful notes in his booklet for the physical release (recommended), as well as online. Some of them ("Mean Temperament" or "Double Helix"), may be clear enough even without those notes; some, like "Lascaux" (marked "Cavernous, but contained") may be less so. However, there is an X factor here in the sheer ambition of Hickey's project. That ambition is reflected well in the playing of pianist Vladimir Rumyantsev, who brings Russian virtuosic flair to the music; this fits the ideas, although Hickey's writing is not especially virtuoso. The recording work at Sono Luminus Studios is up to its usual high standard. An intriguing release that might especially be recommended for college and university classes examining relationships between music and other forms of human exploration. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	03/14/2025
Label:	SONO LUMINUS
UPC:	0053479228505

Tracks

1. Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind for the piano~Pre-History
2. Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind for the piano~Lascaux
3. Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind for the piano~Fertile Crescent
4. Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind for the piano~Jericho
5. Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind for the piano~Mean Temperament
6. Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind for the piano~Double Helix
7. Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind for the piano~Confirmation Bias
8. Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind for the piano~Commonwealth

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Vladimir Rumyantsev   Primary Artist,Piano

Technical Credits

Collin Rae   Executive Producer
Daniel Shores   Mixing,Editing,Producer,Mastering Engineer,Engineer
John Veitch   Piano Technician
Joshua Frey   Design
Sean Hickey   Liner Notes,Composer