November 24- Carson Cooman, organist and choir director – Chapel service consisting entirely of my music, including Psalm 103, Chanson Variations, and a new hymn setting, Appleton Chapel, Memorial Church, Harvard University, 8:45 AM. December 15- Magnificat Antiphons, Wesley United Methodist Church, Vienna, Virginia, 11 AM. 8- Magnificat Antiphons, Wesley United Methodist Church, Vienna, Virginia,Continue reading “Upcoming Performances”
Monthly Archives: October 2015
Hauschka – Stromness (Eluvium remix)
Sound Unbound Mixtape
Messiaen – Poemes pour Mi (CD Review)
Olivier Messiaen Poèmes pour Mi Bruun Hyldig Duo (Hetna Regitze Bruun, soprano; Kristoffer Hyldig, piano) Naxos CD 8.573247 Hetna Bruun is billed as a soprano here, but she routinely sings as a mezzo. Given that Olivier Messiaen’s song cycle Poèmes pour Mi was composed for a Wagnerian soprano, Marcelle Bunlet, to sing, Bruun’s voice has the perfectContinue reading “Messiaen – Poemes pour Mi (CD Review)”
The First Four Notes! – Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor Asunder, Sweet, and Other Distress Constellation LP This review begins with a hat tip to Matthew Guerrieri, whose book The First Four Notes is required reading for those wishing to better understand Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The first four notes which concern us here emanate from the speakers of highly politicized post-rockContinue reading “The First Four Notes! – Godspeed You! Black Emperor”
“Music for Strings and Wood”
Below, a documentary about Bryce Dessner’s work for So Percussion. Out now via Brassland. On Monday, October 19 at 7 PM, So Percussion plays pieces that inspired this composition at Other Music.
Eighth Blackbird: “Filament” (CD Review)
Filament Eighth Blackbird Cedille Records CD 90000 157 The “M” word: minimalism: oft-quoted, sometimes maligned, often misunderstood, and seldom accepted as a self-descriptor by composers. We get into ever more thorny ground as we begin to contemplate “post-minimalism:” does it describe chronology, influence, or some kind of murky musical terrain? If we are to useContinue reading “Eighth Blackbird: “Filament” (CD Review)”
Jenny Olivia Johnson: Don’t Look Back (CD Review)
Jenny Olivia Johnson Don’t Look Back Innova Recordings CD 925 Wellesley professor Jenny Olivia Johnson presents a program of synth-inflected songs on Don’t Look Back, her debut recording for the Innova imprint. Like many good indie classical songwriters, her formula combines beautiful sounds with stark lyrics: I like to think of it as theContinue reading “Jenny Olivia Johnson: Don’t Look Back (CD Review)”
Mark Applebaum: 30 (CD Review)
Mark Applebaum 30 Innova Records CD 928 To celebrate his thirtieth wedding anniversary, composer Mark Applebaum composed three pieces for percussion ensemble. They can be played successively or simultaneously. Each celebrates a different decade of the couple’s marriage Applebaum isn’t the only composer who has created works that have this capacity, but here itContinue reading “Mark Applebaum: 30 (CD Review)”
Playlist
Listening: Girl Band, Holding Hands with Jamie Pet Shop Boys, Discography Alex G, Beach Music Mary Halvorson, Melt Frame Tyshawn Sorey, Oblique-I Daniel Martin Moore, The Golden Age Fred Hersch, Solo Duncan Sheik, Legerdemain Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Aerial Elvis Costello, Mighty Like a Rose Elvis Costello, Spike Mark Applebaum, 30 Jenny Olivia Johnson, Don’t Look Back
Christian B. Carey 