Search - Arron Jay Kernis, Wolff, City of Birmingham Sym :: Symphony 2 / Musica Celestis / Invisible Mosaic 3

Music of strong emotional and intellectual content

Richard Grady (richard_grady@oxy.co | Houston, Texas | 10/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Aaron Jay Kernis writes strong music. By that I mean that his works are written with a firm sense of form and a sure grasp of harmony and color. I dislike using the word accessible, since that evokes the idea of dumbing down, pandering to the lowest common denominator. Kernis's music is accessible in a far more profound sense; it rewards the listener willing to pay attention with a complete musical experience. There are beautiful sounds, but there is also real emotional power, and perhaps above all, the music makes sense. It has harmonic interest and a sense of direction. This composer has been a real find for me."

Kernis blends modern music with more melodic structures

rider@frontiernet.net | Rochester, NY | 10/07/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is another fine example of why I love this composer so much. His music is very modern, yet he holds on to melodies and chordal structures to prevent it from sounding "way out there". The Second Symphony is fiery and has moments of theatrical violence that put your shoulders into your ears, yet it is very musical and accessible to a large listening audience."