Tower, Joan

Average customer rating:

Joan Tower: Made in America

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Hailstork: Symphonies 2 & 3
Stephen Albert: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2
Carson Cooman: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3
Glass: Heroes Symphony; The Light
Douglas Lilburn: A Song of Islands; Aotearoa Overture; Forest

ASIN: B000OQDRWI
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Amazon.com

Two of the works recorded here are world premiere recordings: "Made in America" and "Tambor." The first uses "America the Beautiful" as its first melodic theme, and bits of it appear throughout the work. Tower interweaves the melodic fragments with many other original tunes, and she colors the work in what could be called the American idiom, with wide-open spaces. There is a central section of a darker nature, but the work ends in glory. "Tambor" is dominated by percussion of all kinds - drums, blocks, etc. - and is an exciting, propulsive work. There are long periods of solos for percussion instruments that act almost as mini-cadenzas. The Concerto for Orchestra is a terrific work that uses the sections of the orchestra as solos, duets and in bunches. Standout moments are a remarkable tuba solo, a dueling duet for trumpets, and a part for the cellos alone. It's a flavorful, fascinating work. Leonard Slatkin leads the Nashville Symphony in excellent performances. --Robert Levine

Average customer rating:

Superb New Music

Thirteen Ways
Joan Tower , George Perle , David Schober , Thomas Albert , and Eighth Blackbird
Manufacturer: Cedille
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Fred
Beginnings
Magnus Lindberg: Piano Concerto; KRAFT
Strange Imaginary Animals
Paul Moravec: The Time Gallery; Protean Fantasy; Ariel Fanstasy

ASIN: B00008ZL55
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Petroushskates
Critical Moments 2: 1 = 120
Critical Moments 2: 2 = 104
Critical Moments 2: 3 = 88
Critical Moments 2: 4 = 112
Critical Moments 2: 5 = 88
Critical Moments 2: 6 = 112
Critical Moments 2: 7 = 44
Critical Moments 2: 8 = 63
Critical Moments 2: 9 = 126
Variations
Thirteen Ways: Leaden, Bleak
Thirteen Ways: Aloof, Persistent
Thirteen Ways: Nimble, Capricious
Thirteen Ways: Sensuous, Relaxed
Thirteen Ways: Freely, Like a Birdsong
Thirteen Ways: Subdued, But Urgently
Thirteen Ways: Exuberant, But Increasingly Stodgy
Thirteen Ways: Steady, Rhythmic
Thirteen Ways: Spacious, Detached
Thirteen Ways: Orotund, Discordant
Thirteen Ways: Driving, Relentless
Thirteen Ways: Seamless, Expansive
Thirteen Ways: Serene

Album Description

The exciting young contemporary-music sextet eighth blackbird has been snatching up glowing reviews, prestigious engagements and residencies, and competition victories, including the 2000 Naumburg Chamber Music Award. This innovative ensemble of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion takes its name from the Wallace Stevens poem, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird."

Thirteen Ways is also the title of the group's commercial recording debut album on Cedille Records, featuring music by four of America's most gifted composers:David Schober (b. 1974), Thomas Albert (b. 1948), Joan Tower (b. 1938), and George Perle (b. 1915). Tower's sparkling Petroushskates is a vibrant homage to Stravinsky; Schober's elegantly crafted Variations, by turns ethereal and insistent, garnered the 1999 Wayne Peterson Prize from San Francisco State University; Perle's Critical Moments II, one of the ensemble's recent commissions, is "remarkably fresh in its spiky crystalline fragments, rapid atonal flurries and muted wisps of sound" (Los Angeles Times); and Albert's kaleidoscopic Thirteen Ways is as evocative and stimulating as the poem that inspired it.

With its "hip, engaging energy and a sterling musicianship" (Chicago Tribune), eighth blackbird "proves that new music can be both fun and serious" (Detroit Free Press). Even if your tastes tend toward the traditional, you'll find yourself beguiled by the new CD from "this wise and vivacious ensemble" (San Francisco Chronicle).

Customer Reviews:

Superb New Music.......2003-05-16

The ensemble plays exquisitely and the compositions are brilliant, especially Albert's piece, thirteen ways. If you haven't heard his music before this is an excellent introduction. The piece is unpredictable, exotic and exciting. It paints vivid sonic images that mirror the spoken poems.

Average customer rating:

American Album

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Fiedler's Favorite Marches
Sousa's Greatest Hits

ASIN: B000003F4K
Release Date: 1991-03-08

Tracks:

Fanfare For The Common Man
American Salute
Washington Post March
New England Triptych: Chester
Variations on 'America'
Symphonette No. 2: Pavane
Babes In Toyland: March Of The Toys
Fanfare For The Uncommon Woman No. 1
Rodeo: Hoedown
The Plow That Broke The Plains: Prelude
The Plow That Broke The Plains: Pastoral
Grand Canyon Suite: On The Trail
Minor Reflection
America The Beautiful
The Stars And Stripes Forever
Taps
The Star Spangled Banner

Average customer rating:

Thirteen Ways

Manufacturer: Cedille
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Beginnings
Strange Imaginary Animals
Osvaldo Golijov: Ainadamar

ASIN: B0000AN3OB
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Petroushskates
Critical Moments 2: 1 = 120
Critical Moments 2: 2 = 104
Critical Moments 2: 3 = 88
Critical Moments 2: 4 = 112
Critical Moments 2: 5 = 88
Critical Moments 2: 6 = 112
Critical Moments 2: 7 = 44
Critical Moments 2: 8 = 63
Critical Moments 2: 9 = 126
Variations
Thirteen Ways: Leaden, Bleak
Thirteen Ways: Aloof, Persistent
Thirteen Ways: Nimble, Capricious
Thirteen Ways: Sensuous, Relaxed
Thirteen Ways: Freely, Like a Birdsong
Thirteen Ways: Subdued, But Urgently
Thirteen Ways: Exuberant, But Increasingly Stodgy
Thirteen Ways: Steady, Rhythmic
Thirteen Ways: Spacious, Detached
Thirteen Ways: Orotund, Discordant
Thirteen Ways: Driving, Relentless
Thirteen Ways: Seamless, Expansive
Thirteen Ways: Serene

Average customer rating:

Four great pieces!
A must for Tower fans!

Joan Tower: Concertos

Manufacturer: D'note Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Joan Tower: Instrumental Music
Tower: Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman
Joan Tower: Silver Ladders / Island Prelude for Oboe and String Quartets / Island Rhythms / Music for Cello and Orchestra / Sequoia
William Grant Still: Afro-American Symphony; In Memoriam; Africa (Symphonic Poem)
Black Topaz - Joan Tower

ASIN: B000003YNK
Release Date: 1997-03-11

Tracks:

Violin Concerto
Flute Concerto
Piano Concerto
Clarinet Concerto

Customer Reviews:

Four great pieces!.......2006-06-24

Although I have a hard time sometimes with Joan Tower's knotty, uncompromising chamber music, these four concertos are very, very enjoyable - without any dumbing down at all. The Violin Concerto is especially wonderful - convincing, concise, rhythmically exciting, melodically and harmonically arresting and orchestrationally vivid. This is a modern violin concerto that can hold its own right up there with Barber, Shostakovich and Stravinsky.
The other concertos likewise also combine music of great concision, drive and drama with moments of great serenity, beautifully drawn-out melodies and delicate construction. The result is music that grabs the ear of the listener the first time around and every susequent time.

A must for Tower fans!.......2004-05-23

This is a great collection of four concertos by a star from the late 20th century, Joan Tower. Tower over time has developed a very unique language. The sound is a modern one (only one of these pieces is pushing 20 years old at the time of this writing), but is very warm and lyrical. Rythmically, Tower's pieces are very active. They seem to surge forward with energy, even in the slow sections. Her forms are sometimes episodic, but they serve the intent of the music. The oldest piece is the Piano Concerto which was premiered in 1985. Although I prefer Paul Barnes' recording because of the clarity in the cadenzas, Usula Oppens does a good job with this extremely difficult part. This concerto will tell you everything you need to know about Tower's style. Another one of my favorite concertos on this disc is also the most recent one, the Violin Concerto. Tower does a great job of blending virtuosic "fireworks" with moments of serenity and intimate beauty. Elmar Oliveira really nails the part as well. The orchestral accompaniments are not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but the Louisville orchestra is up to the challenge, especially in the Clarinet Concerto. I heartily recommend this disc to both established fans and newcomers.

Average customer rating:

Excellent music, excellent performers
Strongly recommended

Joan Tower: Instrumental Music

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Violin Concerto; Rituals
Joan Tower: Silver Ladders / Island Prelude for Oboe and String Quartets / Island Rhythms / Music for Cello and Orchestra / Sequoia
Tower: Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman
Joan Tower: Concertos
Black Topaz - Joan Tower

ASIN: B000A17GHY
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Tracks:

In Memory - Tokyo String Quartet
Big Sky - Joan Tower
Wild Purple - Paul Neaubauer
Holding A Daisy - Ursula Oppens
Or Like A...An Engine - Ursula Oppens
Vast Antique Cubes - Melvin Chen
Throbbing Still - Melvin Chen
Island Prelude - Richard Woodhams

Customer Reviews:

Excellent music, excellent performers.......2006-03-17

Joan Tower's "Island Prelude" has long been a favorite of mine. The work unfolds with an absolute mastery of control and exquisite orchestration. Choosing between its version for oboe and string orchestra and this version for oboe and string quartet is like choosing between full strings and quartet in Barber's "Adagio for Strings". When you have the Tokyo String Quartet playing, as you do here, you don't miss the warmth of a full flank of string players and you get the added bonus of hearing a lot more detail. The quartet also shines in Tower's "In Memory", one of my favorite works of hers, period. Indeed, the works on this disc are all extremely strong. The piano piece "Throbbing Still" is a stunning tour de force, and pianist Melvin Chen holds nothing back in this great performance. Despite raising their prices to now midprice level (remember the $5.98 Naxos bins?), kudos must be given to the label for generating this recording featuring amazing performers and outstanding American repertoire.

Strongly recommended.......2006-01-07

Dr. Tower is a well-known American composer and a performing pianist. Her thoughtful music is always filled with interesting melodies and tinged with just enough modernistic dissonance to add interest. I first discovered her music on the Sharon Isbin (classical guitarist)album Nightshade Rounds, where the composition Clocks appeared. Fascinating music, listen to it if you can.

Since as of this writing Amazon has not listed the tracks, I will:

1. In Memory (string quartet)
2. Big Sky (violin, cello & piano)
3. Wild Purple (solo viola)
4. Holding a Daisy (solo piano)
5. Or Like a...an Engine (solo piano)
6. Vast Antique Cubes (solo piano)
7. Throbbing Still (solo piano)
8. Island Prelude (oboe & string quartet)

In Memory is a poignant piece about grief and death, inspired by the loss of a close friend and the 9/11 victims. The one movement piece is string quartet writing at its finest. Big Sky, on which Ms. Tower plays piano, is every bit as deep and contemplative as In Memory as is the very beautiful Wild Purple whose themes make extended use of the viola's lowest string. The piano solos are filled with interesting sounds and vary greatly in mood. Island Prelude features an oboe weaving its way among the strings, and, like In Memory, it is performed by the famous Tokyo String Quartet. Also, like all of the string pieces on this recording, the tempo is andante or slower.

With a tremendous variety of instrumental combinations, this CD is a delight and one that I will enjoy many times. My only complaint is with Naxos who skimped on the quantity of music and gave us only 58:26 minutes of pleasure.

Strongly Recommended

Redgecko

Average customer rating:

Speeds your pulse, then lingers in your memory
more fanfares no one needs.

Tower: Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman

Manufacturer: Koch Int'l Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Joan Tower: Instrumental Music
Joan Tower: Silver Ladders / Island Prelude for Oboe and String Quartets / Island Rhythms / Music for Cello and Orchestra / Sequoia
Joan Tower: Concertos
Black Topaz - Joan Tower
Joan Tower: Made in America

ASIN: B00000JIND
Release Date: 1999-09-21

Tracks:

Fanfare No. 1 For The Uncommon Woman
Concerto for Orchestra
Fanfare No. 5 For The Uncommon Woman
Fanfare No. 2 For The Uncommon Woman
Fanfare No. 4 For The Uncommon Woman
Duets for Orchestra
Fanfare No. 3 For The Uncommon Woman

Amazon.com

The title of this extraordinary collection of orchestral gems suggests both parody of and homage to Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man. But Joan Tower, as always, has her own artistic vision and nothing here is either a parody of or homage to anyone. There are five Fanfares and a tasty Duet for Orchestra. The main work here is a Concerto for Orchestra (1991), a dazzling exhibition of energetic exchanges between various orchestral groups that seems designed, like Paul Hindemith's Concerto for Orchestra (but not Bartók's), for smaller forces. This way the instrumental pairings stand out. But give credit here to Marin Alsop, the conductor, and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for making these works both lucid and vibrant. This disc clearly belongs in any collection of late-20th-century music. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Speeds your pulse, then lingers in your memory.......2005-11-02

Joan Tower's music has passion, personality and energy to spare. This album is a fine showcase of her music for orchestra, and though not easy listening, it's certainly among the most approachable and involving serious music of recent decades.

more fanfares no one needs........2005-03-13

I would think those who proclaim the paradigm of feminism would want to chart a territory strickly their own rather than coming to terms with a man's macho world within establishment venues and repertoire;a world of testasterone filled expressions past down through chauvinistic HIS story. Tower with all these numerous "Fanfares" likes to Bop us with her ruler,like Sister Mary Mary(my grade school teacher) over the the head with her presence,and spirit. The Musical Sisterhood is hear to stay,with national organizations to boot; forget macho head games of high modernity dodecaphonic music or worse yet the meta-EGO of Stockhausen's clones and their lot. The reference is obvious to Copland's celebrated "Fanfare for the Common Man" a work for brass and percussion proclaiming in a very small way the Democracies of the West with the fall of tyrannies first Fascism then Soviet Communism, (where is the common man today with corrupt Enron tyrannies stealing pension funds)
Tower's exergue(orientation) here is a bit overextended I think, she should pursue her own musical language not simply "tail-end" the man's repertoire,her early works had dabbled in 12 Tone language in a modest way, it was like a language she didn't feel comfortable in. She feels comfortable in the comfortable with a Eastern Establishment lyricism a la Thompson,Rorem,Schuman,Hansonpouring her spirit tried and tested traditional forms.I though feminism is about innovation and challenge? but the Concerto features moments of brilliant orchestrations,yet not quite original nor innovative enough to sustain interest past one-single hearing.
And Why numerous"Fanfares" isn't one enough?,Well post-modernity is at work here,something unavoidable for either sex the idea of "franchise" if one is good like a McDonald's chain,well do another!!rubber stamp out the fanfares!!, we all need more of it.
Why not write on opera on the struggles of women in the last century or current century women from Rwanda, or Darfur,or Palestine or past HER story Harriet Tubman,Mother Teresa,the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo,or the Armagh Women in Ireland,Rosa Luxemburg.

Average customer rating:

An Intriguing Mix of Flute and Guitar Sparks a Surprisingly Affecting Naxos Recording
Look elsewhere for a thrill.
OUT OF TUNE!!!
Lovely contemporary classical flute and guitar music!

Terry Riley: Cantos Desiertos

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

In C: 25th Anniversary Concert

ASIN: B00009NHBP
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Tracks:

Barbara Allen
The House Carpenter
He's Gone Away
Cindy
Snow Dreams
Cancion Desierto
Quijote
Llanto
Tango Ladeado
Francesco En Paraiso
Nocturne
Allegro
Pavane
Cantilena
Refrain

Customer Reviews:

An Intriguing Mix of Flute and Guitar Sparks a Surprisingly Affecting Naxos Recording.......2006-08-18

This is a most unexpected recording from the bargain-priced Naxos label as it combines flautist Alexandra Hawley and guitarist Jeffrey McFadden for five lovely works, the centerpiece being an original suite, "Cantos Desiertos", composed expressly for flute and guitar by California minimalist Terry Riley. Initially, you would expect the result to be more appropriate on the meditative Windham Hill label, but there is enough variety here to make repeated listenings worthwhile. It begins with Robert Beaser's "Mountain Songs" which contains snatches of familiar folk melodies within the four pieces, effectively contrasting the dancing tone of Hawley's flute with the more percussive rhythm provided by McFadden's guitar.

Joan Tower's eight-minute "Snow Dreams" is more expressionistic with some jarring rhythms becoming increasingly unsettled as the elusive snowflakes in the piece become a blizzard, the sound of which is enhanced especially by McFadden's nimble fingering. The true highlight of the disc, Riley's composition has a pervasive Latin flavor that leads with the quiet, haunting "Canción Desierto" and changes dramatically to the more rhythmic "Quijote" and then the remorseful "Llanto". There is an improvisational jazz feel to the fourth movement, "Tango Ladeado", and the composition ends with the hopeful-sounding "Francesco en Paraiso", an elegy of sorts to French composer and countertenor Royon le Mee, who died from AIDS at age 40.

Lowell Liebermann's moving "Sonata for Flute and Guitar, Op. 25" starts in a dream-like trance with "Nocturne" but switches gears to the more rhythmic, kinetic "Allegro". The last piece, Peter Schickele's "Windows, Three Pieces for Flute and Guitar", is the most traditional-sounding of the set with an almost Baroque-sounding "Pavane", a mournful "Cantilena" and the aggressive strumming of McFadden's guitar on "Refrain". The disc's overall feeling is relaxing, but there is certainly enough variety in the compositions to surprise you with the versatility that these two instruments provide when played so masterfully. As with most Naxos discs, the sound is quite clean, enhanced no doubt by the acoustics of St. John's Chrysostom Church in Newmarket, Canada, where it was recorded in 2002.

Look elsewhere for a thrill........2006-04-19

I generally like the music of Terry Riley and his Salomne Dances by the Kronos Quartet are especially worth a listen. But the innovative sounds for which he is known are missing in this composition. The Joan Tower composition, Snow Dreams, is the only piece that saves this bland recording. Snow Dreams is also on the recording "Black Topaz" along with other wonderful music. Do yourself a favor and go to the Naxos website to hear a sample before buying.

OUT OF TUNE!!!.......2006-02-14

Hands down, the Cantos Desiertos by Terry Riley is worthy of a permanent place in the flute/violin and guitar repertoire. My first encounter with this great work was the recording made by David Tanenbaum (guitar) and Tracy Silverman (violin). It holds a special place in my heart and inspired me to order the printed music from Mr. Riley. I now have the opportunity to finally perform this work with a flutist. And so my initial delight when I encountered this recording by McFadden (guitar) and Hawley (flute).

What a terrible disappointment! Both musicians play through the entire work OUT OF TUNE!!! Did they not hear the problem upon playback in the mixing booth? The producers should have never let this one out of the gate. Such a pity since Hawley gave the world premiere of this work with Tanenbaum in 1998. Does she not have enough respect for either Mr. Riley or his music to turn in a respectable performance? As for McFadden: his credits may be knee-deep but his ears must be tin.

Spare yourself the sonic agony and pass this one up. Seek out the Tanenbaum/Silverman recording...you'll be in for some glorious music-making which pays Mr. Riley all the respect he deserves.

Lovely contemporary classical flute and guitar music!.......2004-08-21

One of the things I love about the budget classical music label Naxos is that their CDs are so cheap that they make me willing to experiment on repertory that I would not normally buy or even listen to. Worse comes the worse, if I'm disappointed, I'm only out about one-third the money I would have paid for a full-price disc. Although there are exceptions, I tend to avoid most 'contemporary classical' music, finding it at best intellectually but not emotionally satisfying and at worst unmelodic, uninteresting, and existing only to puff up the composer's ego. Thankfully, this CD of music for flute and guitar by several living American composers is nothing of that sort. After listening to selections on a Tower Records listening station, I was intrigued enough to buy the entire album, and have never regretted it.

Four selections from Robert Beaser's folk-song based cycle 'Mountain Songs' begin the program. It is a pity they could not record the entire eight-song cycle, but then several of the other selections would have to have been cut for time. `Barbara Allen' probably has the most familiar melody, and the flute and guitar together give it a new voice and complexity. The sprightly tune of `The House Carpenter' belies its tragic story, although a sudden diminuendo at the conclusion is very ominous. `He's Gone Away' has two yearning, sorrowful stanzas separated by a jaunty interlude. `Cindy', the only item without origins in the Appalachians (it's a frolic tune based on a minstrel fiddle song), would be perfect music for a square dance.

Joan Tower's spiky and colorful 'Snow Dreams' uses the timbres of the flute and guitar to create images (although I would say sculptures) of many different types of snow from light flakes to swirls to blanketed landscapes and more. However, Tower leaves the choice of whether these images even need to be found up to the listener.

The centerpiece of the disc is the title composition, Terry Riley's 'Cantos Desiertos'. I am surprised that the 'Father of Minimalism' could write something so beautiful and melodic. As the title suggests, it is strongly flavored with Latin rhythms, although the opening `Cancion Desierto' is based on an Indian sitar melody. The guitarist plays his instrument almost as a drum in the beginning, something I have never heard done before. `Quijote' (Dreamer) consists of variations on that theme, and in `Llanto' (Lament) the flute seems almost to sob and wail like a human being. `Tango Ladeado' (Tango Sideways) is there just because Riley always wanted to write a tango! The final movement `Francesco in Paraiso' is dedicated to a friend of Riley's who died of AIDS. Not surprisingly, this is the most overtly emotional part of the work, and has an almost Bach-like construction.

Because Lowell Lieberman writes tonal, neo-romantic music, he is often sneered at by the critical establishment, who call his work "derivative". This is a great pity, especially in light of the Sonata for Flute and Guitar included here. The sweet and wistful Nocturne recalls Ravel and Debussy (although the notes compare it with Shostakovich), conjuring up images of impressionist paintings, and the Allegro is a spirited virtuoso showpiece.

Peter Schickele is of course best known as the, er, 'discoverer' of the hilarious spoof composer P.D.Q. Bach. Yet he is also a very fine composer under his own name. `Windows' was written as a wedding present for his brother, and is divided into three movements. The Pavane resembles compositions of the Renaissance, almost like a lute song, the Catilena is warm and nostalgic, and the percussive final Refrain is very African in flavor and rhythm.

Flutist Alexandra Hawley (a student of Jean-Pierre Rampal) and guitarist Jeffrey McFadden play flawlessly and have an excellent rapport. As usual, Naxos' sound engineering is top-notch. I also note the presence of the superb guitarist Norbert Kraft as producer here - he has produced many guitar recordings for Naxos and has also recorded a essential disc of Villa-Lobos guitar music for them. Naxos also provides detailed liner notes with biographies of the composers and performers and descriptions of the pieces, and again as usual, the cover painting ('Desert Mountains' by Alfred Miller) is quite beautiful. To be picky, I think that Naxos should have released this CD as part of its "21st Century Classics" series instead of its "American Classics" series. While all of these pieces are indeed American, the oldest of them is only 38 years old and the most recent 6 years old, in the same time frame as most of the works in the first series.

Although the music on this disc is often very soothing and relaxing - I have listened to it often at work - it is far too complex and interesting to be merely 'relaxation music'. I would recommend this CD not only to devotees of the flute and guitar but to any classical music lover with an adventurous spirit. These pieces deserve a much wider audience, and it is a pity that so few composers of our day write music in this vein.

Joan Tower: Silver Ladders / Island Prelude for Oboe and String Quartets / Island Rhythms / Music for Cello and Orchestra / Sequoia

Average customer rating:

Joan Tower: Silver Ladders / Island Prelude for Oboe and String Quartets / Island Rhythms / Music for Cello and Orchestra / Sequoia

Manufacturer: First Edition
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

$9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items: