Richard Peaslee Archive

The Lightning Fields—New music for trumpet and piano = Music by Michael DAUGHERTY, Kevin MCKEE, Richard PEASLEE, Anthony PLOG, Daniel SCHNYDER – Jason Bergman, trumpet & flugelhorn – Steven Harlos, piano – MSR

by Audiophile Audition | Jul 13, 2017 | Classical CD Reviews

The Lightning Fields—New music for trumpet and piano = Music by Michael DAUGHERTY, Kevin MCKEE, Richard PEASLEE, Anthony PLOG, Daniel SCHNYDER – Jason Bergman, trumpet & flugelhorn – Steven Harlos, piano – MSR Classics Stereo CD MS 1630 (11/16/16) ****: Some fine contemporary music for trumpet and piano played with gusto, well recorded This disc is a world premiere recording of captivating contemporary music for trumpet or flugelhorn—some unaccompanied, some with piano. The music here is varied, but always dynamic. The trumpet and flugelhorn playing by Bergman is first rate, and as a former brass player myself, I’m impressed with the technique he offers, and the quality of his intonation. Most of the works are for piano and trumpet, but the McKee work, The Adventures of…. is for unaccompanied trumpet and it is a distinctive showpiece. Another standout is Plog’s Sonata for Trumpet and Piano, written in 2009. Plug has consistently written interesting contemporary music, and his Sonata is no exception. At the opening, the trumpet is almost treated like carillon bells, after which the dissonant piano enters to great effect. Michael Daugherty’s The Lightning Fields, from which the disc derives its title, I found to be quite enjoyable. The […]