Lou Harrison - Chamber and Gamelan Works
Lou Harrison - Chamber and Gamelan Works
Contemporary Classical, World | 2006 | | EAC (FLAC, cue, no log) | Booklet | 331 MB
Contemporary Classical, World | 2006 | | EAC (FLAC, cue, no log) | Booklet | 331 MB
Daniel Kobialka, violin; Machiko Kobialka, tack piano I; James Barbagallo, tack piano II; Patricia Jennerjohn, celesta; Don Marconi, percussion; Jerome Neff, percussion; Robert Hughes, conductor; Scott L. Hartman, French horn; Susan Bates, violin; Lou Harrison, suling player; Gamelan Sekar Kembar; Kronos Quartet; The Manhattan Percussion Ensemble; Paul Price, conductor
Harrison’s major contributions to twentieth-century American music lie in three main areas: (1) the development of the percussion ensemble as a viable performance medium; (2) the linkage of Asian and Western musical styles; and (3) the exploration of just intonation tuning systems. All three are represented in the works on this disc.
“Starting with the 1961 Concerto in Slendro (the last word being a specific Indonesian scale), Harrison begins a romance with gamelan that would last the rest of his life. This work is written for an ensemble in just intonation that evokes the sound of the Indonesian gong orchestra, but Main Bersama-Sama, Threnody for Carlos Chávez, and Serenade for Betty Freeman (all from 1978–79) are each a concerto movement respectively for horn, violin, and suling (Javanese flute), accompanied by a real gamelan that Harrison purchased and directed. The 1961 piece has exceptional exuberance, and the three gamelan pieces are truly “sweet” in their temperament—achingly tender and fluid melodies, which somehow don’t grow old despite the heavy repetition the form requires. The String Quartet Set (also from 1978–79) features the Kronos Quartet early in their career, and is a five-movement suite that ranges influence from 13th century Lied (which sounds like an early American “fuguing tune”), medieval dance, French Baroque, and Turkish song! The cellist becomes a percussionist in two of the movements, with precise knockings on the instrument. Despite the multiplicity of provenances, the ultimate effect is never too eclectic and always charming.” - Robert Carl, Fanfare
TRACKS
Concerto in Slendro (1961)
Main Bersama-Sama (1978)
Threnody for Carlos Chavez (1979)
Serenade for Betty Freeman and Franco Assetto (1978)
String Quartet Set (1978–9)
Suite for Percussion (1942)
# Audio CD (May 1, 2006)
# SPARS Code: DDD
# Number of Discs: 1
# Label: New World Records
# ASIN: B000F7MFY2
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Part 1
Part 2
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