A review by steve_sanders
The Ensemble by Aja Gabel

5.0

In this staggering debut, Aja Gabel reveals a profound psychological acuity in exploring the parallel mysteries of love (familial, romantic, and otherwise) and music. Her ability to evoke intimacy in unexpected moments allows seemingly “small” events—a performance of Shostakovich, the building of a pillow fort—to become credibly invested with life and death significance. And she writes descriptively about music as skillfully as anyone I’ve ever read.