Monthly Archives: August 2016

Scott Wheeler on Bridge

Scott Wheeler Portraits and Tributes Bridge CD   Scott Wheeler, composer Donald Berman, piano   Boston composer Scott Wheeler is a prolific creator of large-scale compositions. However, his latest Bridge CD, Portraits and Tributes, reveals a different side of the composer: the author of occasional pieces. Twenty-seven pieces devoted to friends and family, anniversaries andContinue reading “Scott Wheeler on Bridge”

Friday: Locrian Players at Riverside Church

The Locrian Players present music from the past decade. The repertoire that their curators find is always a fascinating listen and often includes several premieres. Check them out (for free) on Friday. Friday, August 26 at 8PM   Derek Bermel A Short History of the Universe Martin Suckling Visiones after Goya** Elliott Carter Figment IV RoydenContinue reading “Friday: Locrian Players at Riverside Church”

8/23/16: ICE at Mostly Mozart

  To celebrate this year’s fiftieth anniversary season, Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart charged International Contemporary Ensemble with performing fifty new pieces over the course of the festival. Numbers 45-49 were presented at Merkin Hall on Tuesday, August 23rd. The fiftieth, music by Tyshawn Sorey celebrating Joséphine Baker, was slated for the 24th.   Tuesday’s programContinue reading “8/23/16: ICE at Mostly Mozart”

Errollyn Wallen – Photography (CD Review)

Errollyn Wallen Photography Matthew Sharp cello Orchestra X / Nicholas Kok conductor The Continuum Ensemble, Ensemble X / Philip Headlam conductor Quartet X Tim Harries bass guitar Errollyn Wallen voice NMC Recordings NMC D221 A composer, vocalist, and pianist, Errollyn Wallen wears many hats and works in a plethora of styles. Photography, a disc devoted to her orchestra music, demonstratesContinue reading “Errollyn Wallen – Photography (CD Review)”

Vulnicura Live

Björk Vulnicura Live One Little Indian CD   Björk’s most recent studio album has already received two releases: Vulnicura and the “unplugged version” Vulnicura Strings. Each has their virtues, but Vulnicura Live brings the best aspects of both, darkly hued electronica and sensuous strings respectively, together with singularly emotive performances by the singer. Thus, oneContinue reading “Vulnicura Live”

Mats Eilertsen – Rubicon

Mats Eilertsen Rubicon ECM Records CD Eirik Hegdal, saxophones/clarinettes; Trygve Seim, saxophones; Thomas T Dahl, guitar; Rob Waring, vibraphone/marimba; Harmen Fraanje, piano/fender rhodes; Olavi Louhivuori, drums; Mats Eilertsen, bass In his debut as a leader on ECM, Rubicon, bassist Mats Eilertsen fronts a formidable septet of musicians with whom he has collaborated on many previous sessions. To be fair, many of the tracks on Rubicon featureContinue reading “Mats Eilertsen – Rubicon”

Sunday Morning at FCM

The Sunday concert at Tanglewood’s Festival of Contemporary Music is always something of a marathon. It starts at 10 AM and is chock full of offerings that usually challenge the ear as much as tantalize it. The Sunday concert has traditionally also been the one that tests the capacities of the TMC Fellows most thoroughly.Continue reading “Sunday Morning at FCM”