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    Robert Moran – Cabinet of Curiosities

    Robert Moran - Cabinet of Curiosities

    Cabinet of Curiosities is a curious collection of seven compositions in which Dan Moore and Iowa Percussion realize the graphic percussion scores of Robert Moran. These works begin in 1964 and proceed through the mists of time all the way up to 2010. The program kicks off with “Interiors II” (1964), a solo performance by Dan comprised of 22 overdubbed tracks featuring percussion instruments from around the world. The result is a vivid, random field of tick-tacks, pitter-patters and plink-plonks. Next, Iowa Percussion goes on an “Elegant Journey” (1965) into a thick, sustained web of sonic briar patches covered with a frothy mix of ambient field recordings. The centerpiece of the album is a 25-minute sprawler called “Salagrama” (1979), an exercise in gorgeous understatement which was originally commissioned for a cathedral organ, then adapted for percussion. Indeed, in this solo piece overdubbed by Dan, tectonically slow, droning synth notes coupled with barely-there vibes, bells, wind chimes, gongs and a triangle launch a perfect night of midnight meditation.

    Spread out over 15 minutes, the title track (2010) is formed from bits of unused, older scores and broken up into six short sections, played by Dan and friends, of super-quirky percussion happenings via: 1. Marimba. 2. Found objects. 3. Marimba. 4. Marimba, bells, vibes, glockenspiel. 5. Found objects. 6. Keyboards, marimba, bells, finger cymbals, vibes, rubber ball, celesta and harpsichord. “Meister Ekhard and the Point of No Return” (2008) brings us another round of random quirk from Iowa Percussion, who then offer up a disheveled almost-rhythm during “Eclectic Boogies” (1962). Dan closes up the Cabinet of Curiosities in solo mode with a piece of prickly percussion backed with atmospheric cymbal washes on “Bombardments” (1966), which is a something of a mainstay in academic percussion circles. To fans of this kind of music, I’d say this album is definitely worth your while.

    Label: Innova Catalog Number: Innova 792 Format: CD Packaging: Jewel case Tracks: 12 Total Time: 71:52 Country: United States Released: 2011 More: Innova, Official, Wikipedia

    Text ©2011 Arcane Candy

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