This is a live recording of a December concert given by the Newberry Consort. The program blends two strains of 17th Century Mexican music. One is the European-inspired sacred music of the church. The second is the folk-inspired music of the streets. This recording captures the raw energy and exquisite beauty of the performances. The […]
Navona Records
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John Robertson Symphonies Underserved by Performances
John Robertson is a mostly self-taught composer who has really come into his own in recent years. This is the fourth release of his music from Navona. To me, it’s something of a mixed bag. The major works included here are his last two symphonies. Symphony No. 4 was written in 2017, and Symphony No. […]
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Eleanor Alberga string quartets show individuality
Jamaican-born composer Eleanor Alberga brings a fresh perspective to the string quartet genre. Alberga is also a concert pianist. At times when all four instruments play chords the ensemble seems to resemble a piano. But Alberga is also married to a violinist, and her writing for strings is idiomatic and practical. She also has a […]
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John Robertson: Virtuosity a bit uneven
For me, Virtuosity was something of a mixed bag. There were many things I liked about the recording (the music), and a few things I didn’t (the playing). As a composer, John Robertson created his own path. He was mostly self-taught, and never tapped into the various trends in contemporary music. As the liner notes […]
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Piffaro Journeys Back Through Bach
Back Before Bach delivers on its promise. Piffaro surveys the music of 16th Century Germany, showing the foundation upon which Bach would build. Piffaro explores seven different themes. The tracks for each theme moves in chronological order. This makes it easy to hear how each tune develops. In some cases, also making the transition from […]