American composer, conductor, and pianist Charles Wuorinen has passed away. Wuorinen was the first person to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for an electronic music work, Time’s Encomium. He was also a MacArthur Fellow and received numerous other commissions and awards. His book, Simple Composition, is one of the clearest explications of composing using 12-toneContinue reading “RIP Charles Wuorinen (1938-2020)”
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CageConcert: an Interview with Philip Thomas
Interview: Philip Thomas Launches Cageconcert By Christian Carey Pianist Philip Thomas is a prolific artist. A member of Apartment House, he recently participated in their recording of Ryoko Akama’s compositions for Another Timbre. Also on Another Timbre is Thomas’s gargantuan CD set of piano music by Morton Feldman, which includes several previously unreleased pieces. TwoContinue reading “CageConcert: an Interview with Philip Thomas”
Jonathan Powell Plays Sorabji (CD Review)
Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji Sequentia Cyclica – Super Dies Irae ex Missa Pro Defunctis Jonathan Powell, piano Piano Classics PCL10206 (7 CD boxed set; digital) Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (1892-1988) was the composer of some of Western classical music’s most intricate, extended, and ambitiously virtuosic works to date. His output encompassed seven decades, from 1914-1984. The serialContinue reading “Jonathan Powell Plays Sorabji (CD Review)”
Two Recordings by David Felder (CD Review)
David Felder Jeu de Tarot Irvine Arditti, violin; Ensemble Signal, Brad Lubman, conductor; Arditti Quartet Coviello CD COV91913 David Felder Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux Laura Aikin, soprano; Ethan Hesrchenfeld, bass; Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, conductor BMOPsound CD 1069 David Felder has taught for a number of years at SUNY Buffalo, running the JuneContinue reading “Two Recordings by David Felder (CD Review)”
Track of the Day: Section of Music for 18 – solo!
Erik Hall has made a recording of Steve Reich’s Music for Eighteen Musicians – by himself. Created before social distancing, it still seems to be in step with the solitariness of pandemic time. The recording will be released on May 8th via Western Vinyl.
Track of the Day: “Empty Quarter”
Golden Retriever and guitarist Chuck Johnson have joined forces on the Thrill Jockey album Rain Shadow (out May 25th). Today the trio release a teaser track, clocking in at nearly an album side of new music, titled “Empty Quarter.”
Barbara Hannigan – La Passione (CD Review)
La Passione Barbara Hannigan, soprano and conductor; Ludwig Orchestra Alpha Classics La Passione is soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan’s second CD with Ludwig Orchestra. Their first collaboration, Girl Crazy, won a 2018 Grammy Award. Like Girl Crazy, the selections on La Passione are disparate, but they cohere into a convincing program. Whether she is performingContinue reading “Barbara Hannigan – La Passione (CD Review)”
Brabant Sings Hellinck and Lupi (CD Review)
Lupus Hellinck – Missa Surrexit pastor bonus Johannes Lupi – Motets The Brabant Ensemble; Stephen Rice, conductor Hyperion CD A68304 Lupus Hellinck (1493-1541) isn’t a household name among mid-Renaissance composers. Based on a new recording of his Missa Surrexit pastor bonus, Hellinck’s work deserves wider currency. Despite having several pieces attributed to him that wereContinue reading “Brabant Sings Hellinck and Lupi (CD Review)”
Adés Conducts Adés (CD Review)
Adés Conducts Adés Kirill Gerstein, piano; Christianne Stotijn, mezzo-soprano; Mark Stone, baritone; Boston Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Adés, conductor Deutsche Grammophon CD/DL 4837998 Thomas Adés is in his third year as Artistic Partner of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It has been an extraordinarily fruitful pairing. Adés has performed with the ensemble as a conductor and pianist,Continue reading “Adés Conducts Adés (CD Review)”
Michael Harley – Come Closer (CD Review)
Come Closer Michael Harley, bassoon Phillip Bush, piano; Ari Streisfeld, violin, Daniel Sweaney, viola; Claire Bryant, cello New Focus Recordings A longtime member of Alarm Will Sound, now on the faculty of University of South Carolina, Michael Harley makes his monograph CD debut with Come Closer on New Focus Recordings. The program features repertoire byContinue reading “Michael Harley – Come Closer (CD Review)”
