Search - Howard Hersh, Darling, Barbini :: The Pony Concerto

The Pony Concerto
Howard Hersh, Darling, Barbini
The Pony Concerto
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (7) - Disc #1

Here is a brilliant new CD release by one of the masters of California s thriving new music scene...filled with melodic invention and fluid rhythmic tapestries, this is music of the Heart guided by a keen intelligence Te...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Howard Hersh, Darling, Barbini, Carlisle, Krejci, Shands, Mayforth, Ehrlich, Cogan
Title: The Pony Concerto
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Albany Records
Original Release Date: 1/1/2007
Re-Release Date: 3/1/2007
Genre: Classical
Styles: Chamber Music, Forms & Genres, Concertos, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 034061091424

Synopsis

Product Description
Here is a brilliant new CD release by one of the masters of California s thriving new music scene...filled with melodic invention and fluid rhythmic tapestries, this is music of the Heart guided by a keen intelligence Terry Riley. Howard Hersh was born in Santa Monica and studied piano and composition at Stanford University. Steeped in 20th century modernism, his music has expanded to embrace a variety of tonalities, dance rhythms and quotations, dramatic narratives and explorations of the social conscience. According to the composer, his work is driven by a search for the nexus of musical abstraction and representational humanity. A recipient of grants and awards from organizations that include Meet the Composer, the American Symphony Orchestra League, the American Composers Forum and the Rex Foundation (the non-profit wing of The Grateful Dead), his works have been performed at Tanglewood, Grace Cathedral and throughout Europe. Together with his compositional work, Hersh has directed many new music groups, including Music Now and the San Francisco Conservatory New Music Ensemble, which he founded, and has served as Music Director of radio station KPFA-FM.

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CD Reviews

Exciting New Music Stunningly Played
J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 07/03/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'd like to add my praise to that of the other reviews already posted here. I'd never heard of Howard Hersh before but he is now firmly on my map. The main piece here, the 'Pony Concerto', for a small ensemble consisting of flute/piccolo, clarinet, piano, violin and cello, is an invigorating romp that somehow manages to be both droll and profound. I have to remark that the playing here is amazingly good; apparently the musicians are from the Sacramento area and they are good enough to be bigtime, perhaps a comment on the depth of really first-class musicians throughout this huge nation of ours.



None of the other reviewers commented on the other two works here. The Sonata for Violin and Percussion with string bass obbligato, is played by violinist William Barbini and percussionist David Carlisle (and an unnamed bass player -- or is one of the named players doubling on the bass? -- who is given a part that incorporates both musical tones and percussive effects on the bass strings and wood body using yarn mallets and the bare hands). The first movement, 'Aide-memoire', is a meditative, even mysterious, largo which makes time stand still. This is followed by 'Dance', a languorous tango cum habañera. The 'Finale', after a long slow introduction, becomes a full-steam-ahead metrically complex caprice that builds to a breathless climax.



'Braided River Nights' for alto flute and marimba apparently was inspired by nighttime on the eponymous river. During the piece's twelve minutes the two instruments intertwine like the strands of the river, occasionally quoting almost-familiar tunes and at the end, appropriately, 'Shall We Gather at the River.' A tour de force for the musicians -- Mathew Krejci, alto flute, and Matthew Darling, marimba.



This is an exciting new (to me, at least) voice whose acquaintance I have been very glad to make. I've been listening to this CD more or less non-stop for the last several days and keep finding new and alluring things to note.



Now who IS that masked bass player?



Scott Morrison"