VA - Open Borders (2020)

From Ricardo Lorenz –

When the term social distance abruptly entered our vocabulary, our social behavior changed perhaps forever. Today, everything around us seems to be delineated by an imaginary border bearing the sign “please keep six-feet away,” or worse yet “stay away if you are not like-minded.” This unprecedented moment of self-imposed seclusion merits reflecting upon what a borderless existence means and feels like.

More than a decade ago, I titled my unaccompanied cello work Open Borders thinking not only of geographical borders but also of borders created in our minds as a result of our upbringing and education. This CD borrows the title of this solo cello work in order to make a stance on music’s greatest contribution to humanity. In my opinion, music acts as an interface space that allows experts and novices alike to enter into a sensory realm devoid of national, racial, or social prejudice.

I invite the listener to enter into this space. The music offered here is a collection of some of my chamber works spanning a creative period of thirty years, from 1989 to 2019. During these thirty years, I travelled exhaustively between the U.S. and my native country of Venezuela in addition to many other countries around the world; I lived and held teaching positions in three different Midwestern higher education institutions; married and became the father of two sons; divorced and found love again. During this period, I unfortunately also witnessed my beloved Venezuela disintegrate and turn into a humanitarian tragedy. Along the way, I encountered extraordinary musicians who inspired me, helped me heal, and generously provided the means for me to compose the music contained in this CD. I can say that I am fortunate to have lived an almost borderless life, one that I pay homage through this collection of compositions, encouraging listeners to imagine what lies ahead with optimism.