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- Genre: Classical
- Style: Classical Vocal
- Label: Naxos
A sterling collection of contemporary classical music.
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We Say...
Philip Glass and John Adams are arguably the most visible and successful composers of our time, so you could quibble with this compilation’s subtitle — “Alternative Classical Collection.” But it’s hardly worth the effort; this album offers a fine overview of the state of contemporary composition, and ignores the ridiculous “uptown vs. downtown” divide that would normally keep Glass and Adams well away from their more astringent, academic colleagues, like Charles Wuorinen.
The album begins with a movement from Glass’s “Heroes” Symphony — based on the mid-'70s album of that name by David Bowie and Brian Eno — staking a claim to a musical territory that is still classical but might be welcoming to disaffected rock fans. The conclusion of Adams’ early piece “Shaker Loops” remains one of his most exciting, even ecstatic works, and is also eminently likeable. But the story here is the variety and the connections drawn: Wuorinen’s Horn Trio is well-muscled and so sure of itself that it might sway those Glass/Adams fans who only know this composer by his ferocious reputation. And hearing Edgard Varèse’s landmark forays into modernism and electronics on the same album as the grand, post-Romantic work of Finland’s Einojuhani Rautavaara (winner, “Composer Most in Need of a Nickname”) is pretty impressive.
Two of the classical concert hall’s greatest hits are here: Poland’s Krzysztof Penderecki (maybe I was too quick with that Rautavaara crack) is represented by one of the most searing, emotional works in the 20th century repertoire, the “Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima.” And Estonian composer Arvo Pärt is represented by the gazillionth version of his meditative, graceful “Fratres.” For those looking for genuinely alternative sounds, there’s one of John Cage’s groundbreaking Sonatas & Interludes for Prepared Piano and a detour into the dimly-lit netherworld of George Crumb. Individually, the tracks are all excellent introductions to their respective composers. Collectively, Sonic Rebellion does a good job of capturing the stylistic diversity of today’s classical music.
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| 01. |  |
Symphony No. 4, "Heroes": V. Neukoln
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6:48 |
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| 02. | |
Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima
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9:00 |
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| 03. | |
Shaker Loops: A Final Shaking
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4:09 |
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| 04. | |
Déserts: Third Electronic Interpolation (beginning)
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4:12 |
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| 05. | |
Sonata I: Fourth Interlude
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2:45 |
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| 06. | |
Songs, Drones and Refrains of Death: Death-Drone II |
1:48 |
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| 07. | |
Toccata for Violin and Piano Player
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1:38 |
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| 08. | |
Piano Quintet: Moderato
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4:58 |
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| 09. | |
Silenzio (for accordion, violin and cello): II
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2:33 |
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| 10. | |
Piano Concerto No. 1: Con grandezza |
9:51 |
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| 11. | |
5 Night-Pieces: No. 1. Elegie
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3:08 |
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| 12. | |
Horn Trio
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11:44 |
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| 13. | |
Etudes, Book 2: IX. Vertige
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3:55 |
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| 14. | |
Fratres for Strings and Percussion
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8:54 |
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14 Total Tracks, 75:23 Total Length
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Credits
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Composers
Arvo Pärt // Charles Wuorinen // Krzysztof Penderecki // Alfred Schnittke // John Cage // Conlon Nancarrow // John Adams // Einojuhani Rautavaara // Edgard Varese // Hans Werner Henze // Philip Glass // Gyorgy Ligeti // Sofia Gubaidulina // George Crumb -
Performers
Alan Feinberg played Piano // Idil Biret played Piano // Maria Kliegel played Cello // Laura Mikkola played Piano // Mark Lubotsky played Violin // Dimity Hall played Violin // Boris Berman played Piano // Benjamin Hudson played Violin // William Purvis played Horn // Peter Sheppard Skaerved played Violin // Aaron Shorr played Piano // Nicholas Isherwood played Bass (Vocal) // Mia Wu played Violin // Irina Schnittke played Piano // Irina Morozova played Viola // Julian Smiles played Cello // Elsbeth Moser played Accordion // Kathrin Rabus played Violin -
Other Details
- Ensembles:
- The Group for Contemporary Music //
- 1999 AFCM Ensemble //
- Ensemble New Art
- Conductors:
- Antoni Wit //
- Hannu Lintu //
- Christopher Lyndon-Gee //
- Gyorgy Selmeczi //
- Tamas Benedek //
- Marin Alsop //
- Fuat Kent
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