I’m a percussionist by training. And I’m an admirer of Joan Tower’s music. So a disc featuring Tower’s compositions for Evelyn Glennie was a must-review for me. Glennie is one of the foremost percussionists in the world. Her innovative technique is only matched, by her drive to enrich the repertoire. To that end, she has […]
Blair McMillen
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What makes Harold Meltzer – Songs and Structures important
Some recordings are truly important — and I think “Song and Structures” qualifies as one. Every work on this Harold Meltzer album is performed by the artists who premiered them. In some cases, such as the song cycles, Meltzer composed specifically for the voice of the singer. That singer, tenor Paul Appleby also provides the […]
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Powerhouse Pianists Deliver Once Again
I haven’t heard the original Powerhouse Pianists album, but after listening to this release, I’ll be searching it out. This release features the same type of programming as the first Powerhouse Pianists, although it can be enjoyed on its own merits. Pianists Stephen Gosling and Blair McMillen present a collection of contemporary works that push […]
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Jennifer Higdon: An Exaltation of Larks
From a marketing standpoint, it’s a natural — the all-female Lark Quartet performs music by female composer Jennifer Higdon, including her Lark Quartet. But this release is more than that. It’s actually about a very talented string quartet performing music by a very talented composer. Period. And on that level, An Exaltation of Larks succeeds […]