Search - Osvaldas Balakauskas, Juozas Domarkas, Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra Vilnius :: Balakauskas: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5

Baltic Jazz

Steven Apergis | Burke, VA USA | 12/04/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This music is very unusual and is probably would not be everyones cup of tea. These symphonies remind me much of the late 20th century music that has come out the Scandanvian and Baltic countries. Although it is atonal, it appears to me that this music evolved out of aesthetics of Sibelius. The closest composers that this music sounds like are Vasks and Rauravaara.

There is a unique twist here. There is a strong jazz element. In the fourth symphony I can hear a blues structure in many of the melodies.

The jazz influence really comes through in the fifth symphony. During the final movement I had the feeling I was listening to atonal latin music ala Morton Gould.

If one is interested in classical jazz, he should give this a try."