Review of Spirit Murmur

This album’s lovely lilting strings conjure images of trees rustling on warm summer nights and invite the listener into quiet contemplation. Hovhaness is very accessible for a modern composer, his gentle nostalgic style makes for pleasant background music, but it can also be enjoyed for it’s own sake. There’s a slightly exotic tone here as well; Hovhaness was Armenian and he often ornamented his work with Eastern sensibilities. The Shanghai String Quartet does an admirable job, especially with the bagatelles.