aworks :: "new" american classical music

Railroad (Travel Song) (1971). Meredith Monk #favorite #newrecording

A new recording by Conrad Tao:

Magnificat (2004). Caleb Burhans #favorite

bangonacan.org:

Evensong is Burhans' defining statement of his complex connection to the church -- an "emo-classical" epic where sacred meets secular in a pure, dynamic expression of musical influences that range from classical to ambient to post-rock.

On rdio:

Six Marimbas (1986). Steve Reich #favorite

New recording from the Royal Academy of Music. rdio:

Mescaline Mix (1960-62). Terry Riley #strangest

Structure of mescaline (Wikipedia)

ubuweb: 

"Mescalin Mix" was inspired in part by John Cage's "Fontana Mix," Riley's own experiments with mescaline, and his work with Richard Maxfield. It was created over two years (1960-1962), using tape loops that would extend out Riley's window into the yard to a wine bottle spindle. This very piece, which is the single strangest piece of "music" he ever created, was used by choreographer Ann Halprin's legendary work "The Three-Legged Stool," and was added onto later by collaborations from many other composers and artists including Morton Subotnick. 

This recording is also hidden, but not a gem.

Concerto for Two Pianists and Five Tape Recorders (1961). Terry Riley and La Monte Young

I'm interested in finding hidden gems amongst the early works of minimalism. This Concerto is not one of them. Ubuweb MP3 here.

aworks listening log :: white, riley, niblock, glass

Phill Niblock

David Ashley White

• Five Glimpses. As you set out for Ithaka. White is on the faculty at the University of Houston. #favorite
• Phantasy and Toccata

Terry Riley

• A Rainbow in Curved Air. #favorite

Phill Niblock

• Didjeridoos and Don'ts. Young Person's Guide to Phill Niblock (YPGPN). "buzzing thickets of digeridoos" #favorite
• Ten Auras. "lovers of ambient music produced by layering synthesiser drones should hear Ten Auras" #favorite

Philip Glass 

• Harpsichord Concerto. Christopher D. Lewis - Glass/Rutter/Francaix: Harpsichord Concertos. This only has 33 plays in a month on rdio. Philip Glass meets the 18th century should merit more interest than that. #favorite

Larry Polansky

• for jim, ben and lou. ZWERM - Larry Polansky: The World's Longest Melody
• Ontslaan (toontood) #favorite