Search - Charles Wuorinen :: Lepton

"New York Notes" the main event here

Bartolo | New York City, New York USA | 04/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of the six Wuorinen CDs I own, this may be my favorite. The title piece is charming, but "New York Notes" is a marvel of dense musical textures and surprises. I don't know whether Wuorinen intended this as a paen to the city, but it's easy to see it as the late 20th c. equal of "Rhapsody in Blue," with its own energy and busy, celebratory sound. I can't imagine ever growing tired of it.



As a non-musician, I haven't a clue what guides and shapes Wuorinen's music--it's supposedly based on Schoenberg's 12-tone system but is infinitely more enjoyable to my ear, at least. Finally I have to trust my own impressions of its inventiveness, its sense of stucture, its delight in sound and sound combinations. If you're tired of the latter-day sturm und drang that comes so easily to European composers, try the cool delights of Wuorinen. And if you're looking for the best Wuorinen, consider this CD."