| 1. |
John Luther Adams (b. 1953)
Dream in White on White (1992) [16'31"]
Barbara Chapman, harp, The Apollo Quartet and Strings / JoAnn Falletta - conductor
Track 1, John Luther Adams: The Far Country {New Albion 061} |
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The other John Adams. {The Nixon opera John Adams appears later on this list.} This Adams is based in Alaska and writes glacial music of intense clarity and beauty. (I love this piece so much it's on my answering machine!)
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| 2. |
Paul Bowles (b. 1910)
Concerto for 2 Pianos & Orchestra (1946-9) [16'20"]
Alan Feinberg & Leslie Stiffelman, pianos, Eos Ensemble / Jonathan Sheffer - conductor
Tracks 9-12, The Music of Paul Bowles {BMG/Catalyst 68409} |
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Legendary novelist and composer Paul Bowles is still alive and well in Tangier, Morocco. (I just visited him.) The Concerto, written half a century ago, is a masterpiece and is loads of fun. If you don't have 17 minutes for Mr. Bowles, try his delightful 1947 Mexican-inspired Pastorella [8'24"], tracks 1-5 of the same disc.
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| 3. |
Ben Johnston (b. 1926)
Suite for Microtonal Piano (1977) [17'20"]
Phillip Bush - piano
Tracks 1-5, Ben Johnston: Microtonal Piano {Koch International Classics 7369} |
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Once you get past the unusual sound of the microtonal tuning (which gives the piano a fresh, new flavor), a whole new range of melodic and harmonic possibilities emerges. Each of the short movements (which include a melancholy Blues and a rousing Toccata) work on their own, as well.
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| 4. |
Stephen Hartke (b. 1952)
The King of the Sun (1988) [19'43"]
The Dunsmair Piano Quartet
Track 1, Stephen Hartke: The King of the Sun {New World 80461} |
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Hartke has just been announced in the February 1998 BBC Music Magazine as one of the six finalists in the Masterprize Composition Competition, a world-wide search for audience friendly new orchestral works. Find out why through this astonishing chamber work.
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| 5. |
Ira J. Mowitz (b. 1951)
Shimmering (1992) [16'32"]
Stanford Center for Computer Research
Track 5, Ira J. Mowitz: A la Memoire d'un Ami {New Albion 047} |
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If you think that there is no listener-friendly computer music, please listen to this. It couldn't have been more emotionally moving if it were being played by "real" musicians!
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| 15 Under 15 (6-20) |
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| 6. |
Terry Riley (b. 1935)
Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector (1985?) [10'16"]
Kronos Quartet
CD 1 -- Track 1, Terry Riley: Cadenza on the Night Plain {Gramavision 79444} |
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An extremely beautiful string quartet by the man responsible for bringing back tonality performed by the chamber group that proved that there is a huge audience for new music if it's presented in an exciting way.
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| 7. |
Lou Harrison (b. 1917)
Concerto in slendro (1961) [10'06"]
Maria Bachmann-violin, California Symphony / Barry Jekowsky - conductor
Tracks 8 - 10, Lou Harrison: A Portrait {Decca/Argo 455 590} |
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One of our greatest living composers, Lou Harrison writes experimental music that isn't afraid of being beautiful and which defies all cultural boundaries.
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| 8. |
Alan Hovhaness (b. 1911)
Tzaikerk (Evening Song) (1945) [10'41"]
Paul Edmund-Davies-flute, Arnold Kobyliansky-violin, Randy Max-timpani, I Fiamminghi/Rudolf Werthen-cond
Track 3, Alan Hovhaness: Celestial Gate {Telarc 80392} |
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Another one of our greatest living composers, Alan Hovhaness has written a vast body of immediately accessible yet extremely original repertoire combining western classical trappings with Armenian folk influences. A shorter more conservative work from the same CD is the monumental 1936 Prelude and Quadruple Fugue [Track 2 - 7'45]. Either way, audiences love his music!
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| 9. |
David Borden (b. 1938)
Double Portrait (1987) [14'38"]
Double Edge: Edmund Niemann and Nurit Tilles - pianos
Track 4, U.S. Choice - Double Edge {CRI Emergency Music 637} |
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Beethoven's emotional intensity fused with counterpoint of a Bach or a Steve Reich. Very exciting stuff!
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| 10. |
Michael Gordon (b. 1956)
Yo Shakespeare (1992) [10'44"]
Icebreaker
Track 1, Terminal Velocity - Icebreaker {Decca/Argo 443214} |
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Difficult listening? Maybe for folks who only listen to the standard classical repertoire, but the rhythmically driving music of Bang On A Can-founder Michael Gordon has recently become a presence among club DJs and speaks to a wide audience of younger listeners which classical radio needs.
10 more reasons
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