I've started to explore the music of the composers in the upcoming Stephen S. Taylor's documentary The End of New Music. The first MP3 is from Missy Mazzoli (click on the main page's listen to get to the MP3 page). From the composer's website:
MISSY (Melissa) MAZZOLI is a delinquent tap dancer turned insomniac composer, whose influences range from Beethoven to Balinese Gamelan. She writes for melodicas, out-of-tune guitars and electronics as well as orchestras and string quartets to create a truly unique sound.
I was in London once with some time to kill so I went shopping for a melodica. I didn't find one at the time but I still like the instrument. Calling Augustus Pablo...
While Ms. Mazzoli's piece In Spite of All This lacks melodica, it does sound fresh with its combination of clarinet, electric guitar, vibraphone, drum kit, piano, violin, and cello. From the composer's program notes (via NewMusicBox) for the work:
I sought to describe not only the vulnerability and anger but the compassion, optimism and renewal that marks these otherwise destructive times.
Why Generation Xers are inherently more pragmatic than boomers I only partially understand but there it is. (and some classic boomer pessimism can be found here).
Note also her composition These Worlds in Us (streaming here) will be conducted by Marin Alsop at the Cabrillo Music Festival's In the Works concert in Santa Cruz, CA later this summer.
