For those unaware, Rami Levin’s work is inspired in part by Brazil, where she spends several months a year. The first piece on the album, “Asas” (Wings) for clarinet, violin, and piano, is based on “the calls of two birds native to Brazil which I often hear while composing in my study in Rio de Janeiro.”

One of the two song cycles on the album, “Três Canções”, is a charming setting of Portuguese texts written by the 7-year old daughter of a Brazilian friend.

Asked why she brought this team of incredible artists together for this album, Rami Levin explained, “At this stage in my career it seems appropriate to look back and reflect on my past work. The goal of this album is to disseminate definitive interpretations of some of my chamber music, recorded by superb musicians, many of whom I have had the pleasure of working with over the years.”

1. Asas for clarinet, violin and piano: 1. bem-te-vi
2. Asas for clarinet, violin and piano: 2. sabiá
3. Saudade, for guitar
4. Três canções, for soprano and piano: 1. os macacos brincalhões
5. Três canções, for soprano and piano: 2. o pequeno barco
6. Três canções, for soprano and piano: 3. porcos
7. Reflections of reflections (11.11.11), for wind quintet
8. Caprichosa, for flute and harp
9. Línguas fraternas: 1. leste-oeste
10. Línguas fraternas: 2. norte-sul
11. Four English Songs, for soprano, flute, harp, and guitar: 1. sixpence
12. Four English Songs, for soprano, flute, harp, and guitar: 2. apple pie
13. Four English Songs, for soprano, flute, harp, and guitar: 3. hey, diddle diddle
14. Four English Songs, for soprano, flute, harp, and guitar: 4. the house that jack built

The elegantly-hued new recording opens on the pairing of the playful Asas for clarinet, violin and piano: 1. bem-te-vi and an aching yearn that punctuates Asas for clarinet, violin and piano: 2. sabiá, and then we get the delicately-hued Saudade, for guitar, a beautiful trio that opens on the operatic trio of Três canções, for soprano and piano: 1. os macacos brincalhões, o pequeno barco, and the veritably glistening porcos, before we are brought forth the percussional elegance within Reflections of reflections (11.11.11), for wind quintet.

Along next is the languishing Caprichosa, for flute and harp and a stunning duo that opens on the stoically-yearning Línguas fraternas: 1. leste-oeste and the sprightly norte-sul, and they are in turn backed by a quartet, that opens on the harmoniously plucked, again operatic quartet of Four English Songs, for soprano, flute, harp, and guitar: 1. sixpence, apple pie, the truly magnificent hey, diddle diddle, rounding out on the strident, yet flirtacious the house that jack built.

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