Steven Stucky was both a successful composer and an influential teacher. His Second Concerto for Orchestra won the Pulitzer Prize. Stucky produced a large number of works and taught some of the most important composers of the next generation. It’s no surprise then, that this musical memorial to Stucky would feature an impressive lineup of […]
contemporary classical music
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Michael Daugherty Dreamachine Hits on All Cylinders
In my opinion, Michael Daugherty’s style hits the sweet spot. His music has real substance, working on multiple layers that yield fresh insights with every hearing. He’s also fully integrated the musical vernacular of pop culture. And he writes in a mostly tonal and strongly rhythmic language. These strengths enable his music to connect with […]
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Craig Morris Delivers an Exciting Program of Solo Philip Glass
Craig Morris presents a fascinating program of Philip Glass music. Although considered a minimalist, most of Glass’ recorded music is for ensembles (both large and small). Glass’ best-known works are appealing not only for their melodic permutations but also for their ever-shifting harmonic textures. So what happens when Glass limits himself to a single instrument? […]
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Hans Gál Cello Music Unabashedly Beautiful
The first part of Hans Gál’s story isn’t unusual. Like many talented Jewish musicians in Austria and Germany, his career was derailed by the rise of Nazism. was one of many talented German and Austrian musicians. Gál fled to England, settling in Edinburgh and becoming a respected teacher. Gál wrote throughout his life in a […]
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Canadian Panorama showcases contemporary talent
Canadian Panorama marks Canada’s 150th Anniversary with an outstanding variety of native classical music. It’s the first commercial recording of the Winds of the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s a release of new music for wind ensemble. And it’s also a survey of living Canadian composers that are both diverse and inviting. Happily, Canadian Panorama succeeds […]
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Danielpour String Quartets Lyrical and Accessible
This release was something of a surprise. Naxos has released many recordings of Richard Danielpour’s music. So when I received a copy of this set of string quartets, I assumed that Naxos had also recorded and release the previous four. Not so. Not only are these world premiere recordings of Danielpour’s latest string quartets, but […]
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Arnold Rosner Orchestral Works, Vol. 2
This installment of Rosner’s orchestral music shows a wide range of emotional expression. The 1976 Five Ko-ans for Orchestra encapsulates the essence of Rosner’s style. The music’s mostly triadic, with chords resolving in delightfully unexpected ways. Rosner incorporated Renaissance modality and late Medieval counterpoint into his music. It’s no accident that the final movement of this work […]
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Harald Genzmer Concertos – Zestful, Artful, and Comprehensible
German composer Harald Genzmer had a philosophy. “Music should be zestful, artful and comprehensible. As practicable, it may win over the interpreter, and then the listener as graspable.” The three concertos in this release, spanning 60 years, show Grenzmer remained true to his ideal. In 1938 Genzmer had just completed his studies with Paul Hindemith. […]
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Larsson Symphony No. 3 – Music that should be heard more often
This release completes Andrew Manze’s traversal of Lars-Erik Larsson symphonies — although I hope he doesn’t stop there. Larsson was a talented composer who crafted his own language out of various 20th Century trends. It’s a voice that needs to be heard more often. The centerpiece of this release is Larsson’s 1944 Symphony No. 3 […]