minimalism Archive
JON GIBSON: Relative Calm – Jon Gibson, saxes and keyboards/Joseph Kubera, keyboards/David Van Tieghem, perc. – New World
A look back at one of the ‘founders’ of minimalism well worth your while! JON GIBSON: Relative Calm – Jon Gibson, saxes and keyboards/Joseph Kubera, keyboards/David Van Tieghem, percussion – New World 8783-2 [Distr. by Albany], 69:06, (11/04/16) ****: I first became aware of Jon Gibson some forty years ago while he was still a member of the Philip Glass Ensemble. My admiration for Jon at the time was solidly (but only) due to his appreciable saxophone skills. I learned of his skills as a composer who could very capably bend the edges of what was then the minimalism genre through his Two Pieces (minimal though they are, they do not ‘mirror’ Philip Glass and others) on vinyl LP which has recently been rereleased on CD. Relative Calm on CD is a major find. From the press materials, Gibson is “one of the less frequently mentioned pioneering composers of minimal music and is probably best known as a founding member of the Philip Glass Ensemble. Gibson also holds the unique distinction of having performed with Steve Reich, Terry Riley, and La Monte Young (as a member of the Theatre of Eternal Music). In addition to Glass, the four composers are […]
MICHAEL TORKE: Three Manhattan Bridges; Winter’s Tale for cello and orchestra – Joyce Yang, p./Julie Albers, cello/Albany Sym. Orch./David Alan Miller – Albany
A wonderful look at this composer’s more recent style. MICHAEL TORKE: Three Manhattan Bridges; Winter’s Tale for cello and orchestra – Joyce Yang, p./Julie Albers, cello/Albany Sym. Orch./David Alan Miller – Albany TROY 1643, 57:24 (9/01/16) ****: I have appreciated Michael Torke’s music for many years now, going all the way to back to his idiomatic ‘color’ pieces (like Ecstatic Orange, et al) which were created in a sort of bouncy and ‘optimistic’ minimalism with shades of jazz. However, if that it is the only iteration of Michael’s music that one is familiar with then we are missing the growth of his very unique and captivating style. These two pieces are about as far from that much earlier ‘para-minimalist’ brand as one could get. Both Three Manhattan Bridges as well as Winter’s Tale are essentially concertos for piano and orchestra and cello and orchestra, respectively. Three Manhattan Bridges is structured in three movements that create almost a musical painting of the feel of three neighborhoods and moods landmarked by three of the most famous – and most often traversed – bridges that lead in and out of Manhattan; the George Washington Bridge, the Queensboro Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge. This […]
“Filament” = Works of DESSNER, MUHLY, LUX & GLASS – eighth blackbird – Cedille vinyl & CD
Fear not minimalism or new music—hear this with joy and gratitude. “Filament” = BRYCE DESSNER: Murder Ballades; NICO MUHLY: Doublespeak; SON LUX: To Love; This is My Line; PHILIP GLASS: Two Pages – eighth blackbird – Cedille CDR60000 157, vinyl & CD, 49:10, (7/08/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Chicago based Eighth Blackbird is absolutely one of the finest new music ensembles in the country. They are all superb musicians and their choice in repertory is excellent; something that, fortunately, has given them a stellar reputation with contemporary composers and this amazing rep list becomes self-supporting. This new collection is a perfect example and was recorded live at Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, in May of 2013. To me, the centerpiece of this set is the amazing Murder Ballades by the very talented guitarist (of the rock group “The National”) turned composer Bryce Dessner. This collection of seven captivating pieces is based on the very real and somewhat bizarre folk tradition of writing ballades and ditties that describe murders. The individual works are mostly based on actual folk melodies on this grisly topic; while “Dark Holler” is actually an original melody of Dessner’s in the same dark, folky but ominous style. This […]
MORTON FELDMAN: For Bunita Marcus – Ivan Ilić, piano – Paraty
A very sensitive and dedicated performance worth your patience.
![EINAUDI: In a Time Lapse [TrackList follows] – Ludovico Einaudi, piano & guitar/ var. performers – Ponderosa Music/ Universal Italy](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/EinaudiTimeLapseCD.jpg)
EINAUDI: In a Time Lapse [TrackList follows] – Ludovico Einaudi, piano & guitar/ var. performers – Ponderosa Music/ Universal Italy
Another nice new age effort from Einaudi featuring the violin of Daniel Hope.
STEVE REICH: Electric Counterpoint (version for steel pans, vibes, marimba & pre-recorded tape); Six Marimbas Counterpoint; Vermont Counterpoint – kuniko, percussion – Linn IANNIS XENAKIS: Pléïades; Rebonds – kuniko, percussion – Linn
Two very avant percussion SACDs from a Japanese master of the form.
STEVE REICH: Electric Counterpoint (version for steel pans, vibes, marimba & pre-recorded tape); Six Marimbas Counterpoint; Vermont Counterpoint – kuniko, percussion – Linn IANNIS XENAKIS: Pléïades; Rebonds – kuniko, percussion – Linn
Two very avant percussion SACDs from a Japanese master of the form.
![PHILIP GLASS: The Hours; Metamorphosis; Mad Rush [TrackList follows] – Valentina Lisitsa, piano – Decca (2 CDs)PHILIP GLASS: “Mad Rush” [TrackList follows] – Jeron van Veen, piano – Brilliant Classics (2 vinyls)](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Glass-LisitsavanVeenSA.jpg)
PHILIP GLASS: The Hours; Metamorphosis; Mad Rush [TrackList follows] – Valentina Lisitsa, piano – Decca (2 CDs)
PHILIP GLASS: “Mad Rush” [TrackList follows] – Jeron van Veen, piano – Brilliant Classics (2 vinyls)
Glass’ piano music on both vinyl and CD, and the CD set wins out.
PHILIP GLASS: The Hours; Metamorphosis; Mad Rush [TrackList follows] – Valentina Lisitsa, piano – Decca (2 CDs)PHILIP GLASS: “Mad Rush” [TrackList follows] – Jeron van Veen, piano – Brilliant Classics (2 vinyls)
Glass’ piano music on both vinyl and CD, and the CD set wins out.
STEVE REICH: Music for 18 Musicians – Ensemble Signal/ Brad Lubman – Harmonia mundi
Yet another recorded entry on one of the seminal works of the minimalist movement.
ARVO PAART: Für Anna Maria (Piano Music) – Joeroen van Veen, piano – (with Douw Fonda, cello; Sandra van Veen, piano on some sel.) – Brilliant Classics (double vinyl)LUDOVICO EINAUDI: Piano Music – Joeroen van Veen, piano – Brilliant Classics (double vinyl)
Two interesting double-vinyl 180 gr. albums of minimalist piano music.
ARVO PAART: Für Anna Maria (Piano Music) – Joeroen van Veen, piano – (with Douw Fonda, cello; Sandra van Veen, piano on some sel.) – Brilliant Classics (double vinyl)LUDOVICO EINAUDI: Piano Music – Joeroen van Veen, piano – Brilliant Classics (double vinyl)
Two interesting double-vinyl 180 gr. albums of minimalist piano music.
TERRY RILEY: Dorian Reeds (for Brass) – Matt Starling, Flugelhorn & computers – DVD-A
Interesting but even outdoes Steve Reich in repetition.
PHILIP GLASS: Symphony No. 1 “Low” – Sinfonieorchester Basel/Dennis Russell Davies – Orange Mt.
Vibrant new recording of this important early work.
ROGER DOYLE: “Cool Steel Army” = Cool Steel Army; Paavo’s Engagement; Adolf Gébler, Clarinettist – Various performers/Roger Doyle, electronics /Ian McDonnell, laptop perc. – Psychonavigation
These works will definitely wake you up and may require some patience.
Weiss-Kaplan-Newman Trio, “An American Tour” = Works of SCHOENFELD, NEWMAN, YI & AUERBACH – Bridge
Pretty interesting stuff from this talented new ensemble.
ERIK SATIE: Nearly Complete Piano Works – Klara Körmendi, piano – Naxos (5 CDs set)
A bargain way to get most all of Satie’s piano music in excellent performances.
MICHAEL NYMAN: “The Piano Sings 2” = (TrackList follows) – Michael Nyman, piano– MN Records
Nice follow-up for those in the know.
PHILIP GLASS: How Now; Strung Out – Philip Glass, organ/Dorothy Pixley-Rothschild, violin – Orange MountainPHILIP GLASS: Voices for Didgeridoo and Organ; Organ Suite: Four Movements arr. for Organ – Michael Riesman, organ/Mark Atkins, didgeridoo – Orange Mountain
Two more additions for the hardcore PG collector.
PHILIP GLASS: How Now; Strung Out – Philip Glass, organ/Dorothy Pixley-Rothschild, violin – Orange MountainPHILIP GLASS: Voices for Didgeridoo and Organ; Organ Suite: Four Movements arr. for Organ – Michael Riesman, organ/Mark Atkins, didgeridoo – Orange Mountain
Two more additions for the hardcore PG collector.
DANIEL GOODE, “Annbling” = Annbling; Circular Thoughts; Sonata for Clarinet and Piano; Ländler Land – Daniel Goode, clar./Douglas Martin, p./ The Flexible Orchestra – New World
Very interesting work from this renowned clarinetist-composer.
“Barefoot” = Piano Music of Chopin, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Adams, Hofman, Kupferman, Muczynski, & Wolfgang – Joanne Pearce Martin, p. – Yarlung Records
Pianist Joanne Pearce Martin shares her favorite music.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
