aworks :: "new" american classical music

Set of Five (1952). Henry Cowell

An Alan Hovhaness mailing list has pointed out a site by musicologist/critic Walter Simmons dedicated to:

The discovery and dissemination of 20th-century classical music that embodies traditional aesthetic values of beauty, clarity, and emotional expression.

For example, his reviews from Fanfare magazine are available, including a review of the Trio Phoenix recording of Henry Cowell's Set of Five ("an ingratiating musical stew"). The review also mentions the New Albion CD by the Abel-Steinberg-Winant trio, which I would recommend.

And following the connections, William Winant is the percussionist who worked with Sonic Youth on their Goodbye 20th Century CD I like so much (and that might not match traditional aesthetic values). In any case, I look forward to perusing his site as it champions 20th century classical music.

The Fog of War (2003). Philip Glass

Philip Glass wrote the soundtrack for the new movie, The Fog of War.   In it, Errol Morris interviews Robert McNamara about his experiences during World War II, as a Ford executive, and as the Secretary of Defense during the Viet Nam war. 

The music has considerable variety for a documentary and was divided into many, not necessarily related, sections.  Timbre was particularly varied, with use of flute, percussion etc. over string accompaniment.  Some of the music is reminiscent of Koyaanisqatsi, where anonymous people in public spaces are shown to fast-paced music.

Some of the Viet Nam-related segments had an atmospheric, non-rhythmic, even psychedelic feel.  In the closing credits, John Kusiak was also credited with providing music, presumably these parts.  The film also incluced a segment of an old CBS Reports television program (was that Morley Safer?) that used Copland's Appalachian Spring as the theme.

All in all, the music, on first listen, sounds both reminiscent of Glass but also more sophisticated, at least in color.  The cinematography and well-chosen historical film clips were memorable.  Separated from the film, the soundtrack may turn out to lack coherency but with it, "Philip Glass Meets the History Channel" was compelling. 

Amazon has sample streams as well as MP3 downloads.

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Sufjan Stevens, a pop musician who released an album touting the merits of the state of Michigan hates soundtracks, including this one.

Bright Kingdoms (2004). Ingram Marshall

Joshua Kosman has an article about the Magnum Opus project, created by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Kathryn Gould, which will fund $375,000 for nine composers to write works. The premieres will be in the San Francisco Bay Area, starting with the Oakland East Bay Symphony January 23rd.

First up is Bright Kingdoms by former Bay Area resident Ingram Marshall:

...Michael Morgan and the Oakland East Bay Symphony give the world premiere of "Bright Kingdoms," a 16-minute piece for orchestra and tape by former San Francisco resident Ingram Marshall.

GirlHacker commented back in March:

...The orchestral pieces will be performed by three Bay Area orchestras over a few years, allowing audiences to hear the evolution of the work as the composers make adjustments. Negotiations are underway with chamber groups and solo artists to premiere the other compositions. At a time when support for classical music is dwindling, especially in the Bay Area, Gould is demonstrating her belief in a form that many consider outmoded.

Other funded composers so far are Kevin Puts and Kenji Bunch.

Meet the Composer has a pamphlet, "...wow, that was incredible: An Individual's Guide to Commissioning Music." A medium-length quartet might be in the range of $8000 to $25000. See the appendix (PDF) for more details.

I have always wondered why the wealth generated by Silicon Valley never resulted in more artistic payoff. Maybe this is the start...

Clapping Music (1972)

The New Yorker's Russell Platt names "Ligeti/Reich: African Rhythms" on Teldec as one of his ten favorite disks of 2003. Led by pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, it includes several of Gyorgy Ligeti's piano Etudes and Steve Reich's Clapping Music and Music for Pieces of Wood. The CD also has polyphonic music from the Aka Pygmies, that was said to have inspired both composers.

Christopher Rees' review of the CD makes clear the relationship:

The juxtaposition of African roots with the sophisticated sound of Ligeti's solo piano Etude's and Reich's music for pieces of wood make it plain to see how indebted the composers are to African models and collectively help create a wonderful celebration of rhythm and pulse.

Amazon has online samples.

Coincidentally, I am reading Paul Theroux's Dark Star Safari, a description of his somewhat disillusioned return to Africa many years after his Peace Corps assignment. He seems to think that a subsistence farming economy may in fact be appropriate to survive in modern-day Africa. He doesn't comment on the idea of being recording artists...

Wondrous Night (2003). Dan Coleman

Daniel Buckley comments on a new piece, Wondrous Night,  by Dan Coleman:

Lovely and thoroughly tonal, the work sported a recurring whirling undercurrent created by layers of looped arpeggios, played by several string subgroups, slightly out of sync, suggesting a rippling pool. Several episodes of piccolo trumpet interjected a slightly oblique, almost Middle Eastern-sounding aside into the warm, sparkling soundscape. The work recalled John Adams at his energetic and unpredictable best, and clearly got across its celebratory intent.

The Tucson Symphony Orchestra premiered the work, George Hanson conducting.  Garrick Ohlsson was also on the program playing Beethoven.

The review popped up via google news re: john adams.

Scherzo (1953). La Monte Young

Via the La Monte Young email list, his resume. The first work listed is Scherzo for piano, circa 1953.

Kyle Gann on Young:

La Monte Young is one of the most influential underground composers of the 20th century. His early experiments with long tones in 1957-58, fusing as they did interests in both twelve-tone music and Cagean conceptualism, led directly to the style known today as minimalism.

Young would have been about 18 at the time of writing this, so it may or may not be considered juvenile work. Keith Potter does not mention it in Four Musical Minimalists.

La Belle et la Bête (1994). Philip Glass

Hollywood Reporter called the DVD of Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast one of the best of 2003. In addition to the original film, it also includes the Philip Glass operatic score, which is usually played live to accompany the film.

From philipglass.com:

The power of the creative and the raw world of nature, represented respectively by Beauty and the Beast, finally emerges and allows the world of imagination to take flight.

Here's a good introduction to the film. And Jim's Review raves about the DVD. The DVD is a bit expensive ($35.96) but goes on my wish list.

Rilke Songs (2001). Peter Lieberson

Singer Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, wife of composer Peter Lieberson is profiled in the current New Yorker by Charles Michener. Much interesting detail about her, including her development from San Jose violist to soulful international singer.

In 2001, her husband wrote for her Rilke Songs, a setting of Rainer Maria Rilke's Sonnets to Orpheus:

The composer’s choice of texts pointed up his wife’s strengths, especially in the final song, when the poet enjoins his muse, “And if the earthly has forgotten you, / Whisper to the silent earth: I flow. / To the rushing water say: I am.”

Hunt Lieberson's recent recitals where she sang the work have been reviewed by Richard Dyer "close, intelligent readings of the poem", Lloyd Schwartz "abstract yet powerfully emotional", Justin Davidson "music that flatters his spouse's lyric gifts", and Tom Service "dramatises Rilke's elusive imagery."

The work was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2002.  A CD on Bridge Records is planned.