New Releases
Now Playing: March
Topic: NEW CDs
Paul Lansky: Etudes and Parodies (2004) for horn, violin and piano;
William
Purvis, French horn,
Curtis Macomber, violin, Mihae Lee, piano; Semi-Suite (2001) for
guitar,
David Starobin, guitar;
Ricercare Plus (2000, 2004) for string quartet, Brentano String Quartet
BRIDGE 9222 DDD Total Time: 64:51
This recording gives a completely fresh view of the work of a leading
American composer. Long regarded as one of the world's finest exponents
of
'computer music', this disc presents first recordings of three major
Paul
Lansky compositions for acoustic instruments. Lansky's fine ear for
harmony
and his restless and energetic rhythmic sense carry over from much of
his
computer music, but in these works, there is a newly found subtlety
that
seems inspiring to the interpreters heard in these performances..
Etudes and
Parodies for horn trio was the winner of the International Horn
Society's
2005 composition competition. Composed for horn virtuoso, William
Purvis,
the set of seven movements is actually a series of etudes based on all
the
things the horn does well: long round tones, staccato/legato alternate
tonguing, large ascending leaps, rapid and round staccato, natural
harmonics, fast and close jazz-like licks, and finally, soulful
singing. The
'parodies' include gypsy-like music, funk, film-noir, and various
references
to horn player's practice rooms. Semi-Suite was composed for the
guitarist
David Starobin. Its six movements are loosely based around its baroque
namesakes, though Lansky's idiomatic guitar writing shows the influence
of
such finger-style guitarists as Merle Travis and others. Lansky's
Ricercare
Plus includes references to early baroque and late renaissance part
writing
with non-vibrato sustained, overlapping lines, and rapid contrapuntal
configurations. The work was written for the Brentano Quartet.
These Paul Lansky discs are available from Bridge:
Music Box - BRIDGE 9210
Alphabet Book - BRIDGE 9126
My Cinema for the Ears - BRIDGE 9117 (DVD)
Ride - BRIDGE 9103
Justin Dello Joio (b. 1955): Two Concert Etudes (2001), Garrick
Ohlsson,
piano; Music for Piano Trio "The March of Folly" (2006), Ani Kavafian,
violin; Carter Brey, violoncello; Jeremy Denk, piano; Sonata for Piano
(1987, rev. 2005), Garrick Ohlsson, piano
BRIDGE 9220 DDD Total Time: 59:03
This recording presents first recordings of three recent compositions
by the
American composer Justin Dello Joio. John Corigliano writes that
"Justin
Dello Joio is a born composer- a real musician with a sparkling craft
who
has something urgent to say in his works, and the ability to say it. In
an
age when so much contemporary music seems dictated by its
technologically
sophisticated means, it is wonderful to hear music that is composed
completely by ear, mind and heart." Performed by four superb virtuosi,
the
performances heard on these recordings provide vibrant realizations of
the
music of an exciting new voice in contemporary music. Writing about
Dello
Joio's Trio, John Corigliano says that the work "demonstrates Dello
Joio's
ability to forge a large shape that is clear, and meaningful while
providing
subtle and remarkable details along the way. Not a note is wasted in
Dello
Joio's music. It is concise yet expansive, detailed yet unified,
intellectual yet dramatic." Justin Dello Joio is the 7th generation of
composer in the Dello Joio family, the son of the well-known Norman
Dello
Joio. A student of Persichetti, Sessions and Diamond at Juilliard, he
has
received numerous awards and has composed a large catalog of works
ranging
from solo through orchestral, and recently, opera.
MUSIClassical ALLEGRO | 
(Eminent Lives)
Project History and Grammy Awards