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CD Review | Chor Leoni: This Air | This Earth
Kaitlyn Chan of LaScena
February 2, 2026
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of hearing Chor Leoni perform “The Things We Leave Behind” live as part of its The Big Roar community choral event. Hearing the recorded version, I was reminded of the things I liked about this piece: its natural humour, sometimes jazzy sound, and considerate storytelling.
“The Ledger” stood out to me in particular for these reasons. It opens with a saxophone solo played by Julia Nolan that both entices and entertains. The notes come in unexpected waves when suddenly harpist Vivian Chen joins. The low and rhythmic tones of Chor Leoni, before they start their verses, highlight the spontaneity of the saxophone. In this movement, Dunphy explains how the buildup of sediments tells us something about past climates, geological events, and evidence of ancient life. The composer’s witty voice comes through in the double meaning of “our deposits earn interest / and the lake bed waits / for a day of accounting.”