So yesterday morning I decided to keep my morning workout easy. I did a little movement to one of my playlists and then I did a portion of my night yoga routine. The soundtrack to the yoga portion of my routine was Dusk to Diamonds by Timothy Wenzel. I have been a fan of Wenzel’s music for a while now. I have previously written about several of his albums previously. Links are provided to those albums below.
About Timothy Wenzel
One thing that always has amazed me is that music is Wenzel’s second full-time career, Initially, he was research scientist for Union Carbide and Dow Chemical. He has PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry from Cornell University. About 50 U.S. Patents were issued to him during his career. Wenzel sees a correlation between his two main passions – science and music. He says.
“Music and Science have always been my two main passions. I see a correlation between them. Scientific research is very much like writing a song. In both cases you start with an idea and then explore the possibilities of where it can lead.”
Wenzel’s primary instrument is the piano. He is also a master of the synthesist and augments the piano parts with a wide variety of instrumental sounds including: violin, cello, flute, woodwinds, harp, guitars, bass, drums and percussion.Additionally, he uses wordless vocalizing of men’s and women’s choirs. And he does it all so well!
Thoughts About Dusk to Diamonds
Typically. A Timothy Wenzel composition starts off with his solo piano, but soon other voices are heard. On Dusk to Diamonds those voices include the instrumental voices of Graham Cullen’s cello, Jill Haley’s English horn and oboe, Jeff Haynes’ percussion, and Josie Quick’s violin. Additionally, vocalizations are provided by Vicki Smith (spoken word) and Sarah Joerz and The Teenangels. And it’s a wonderful collaboration on all twelve tracks!
On his website Timothy says this about Dusk to Diamonds
The motivating force for this album, like so many of the others, is winter. All my creative energies come out when I am alone in my warm studio, at night, while the winter blackness outside is particularly uninviting: cold rain, clouds, snow and ice. Sadness, joy, love and dreams also contribute……
….Books also captivate me as does travel. My dreams captivate me. I hear (and see) wonderful music. Time and place are transposed. And finally I am inspired by those people whom I meet that are so genuine you would follow them anywhere.
The cover art for Dusk to Diamonds revels Wenzel’s penchant for auroras and Timothy says this when discussing the song…
I often photograph auroras and noctilucent clouds, sometimes starting right at dusk, just as the first stars appear. I settle into an open field, set up the camera and then watch the sky change. The magical moment is when one horizon is still faintly lit while the other is becoming very dark and the stars are shimmering like jewels. Dusk to Diamonds. The album cover is a photograph I captured of a rare summer aurora, just at dusk…
Final Thoughts About Dusk to Diamonds
The bottom line is that like all of Timothy Wenzel’s works Dusk to Diamonds is a terrific album.
Wenzel keyboard work is, as is typical, great and, as always, Josie Quick’s violin provides a perfect alternating voice. The blending in of Graham Cullen’s cello and Jill Halley’s woodwinds is also quite pleasing.
All and all a good album as accompaniment to a yoga routine or a nice quiet night of reading. Check it out!
Links for the Exploration of the Music of Timothy Wenzel
Posts About Timothy Wenzel’s Albums
Summon the Wind
Distance Horseman
Running Away
Here is “Dance Forever” from Dusk to Diamonds featuring just about everyone!
