Various Artists – Works by Robert Erickson, Harvey Sollberger, Peter Westergaard, Phillip Rhodes, Edwin Dugger
This 1999 CD collects five thorny avant-garde pieces from the 1960s for small instrumental chamber ensembles. All of these tracks were previously issued on three old Acoustic Research LPs. Phillip Rhodes’ “Duo For Violin and Cello” throws a few fleeting, homely melodies into a morass of prickly jabs before the whole thing surrenders to a mellow mood. Employing both traditional and experimental techniques, Harvey Sollberger’s “Grand Quartet for Flutes” sprays out a slew of sprightly melodies that tumble across each other like a gaggle of drunk gymnasts.
Recalling the brash music of Ligeti or Iannis Xenakis, Robert Erikson’s “Ricercar a 5 for Trombones” really puts that instrument through its paces with a whole host of blips and blats, squeaks and squawks, guttural eruptions and mini-drones. Compared to the other tracks, Peter Westergaard’s “Variations for Six Players” is rather subdued, although it also offers up its fair share of quirky moods. Edwin Dugger’s “Music for Synthesizer and Six Instruments” throws some seriously damaged electronic music into the mix. You know the kind: chock-full of cut-up chaos in the form of truncated attack and decay, dissonant chords, snap, crackle and pop, and all sorts of shimmering alien static that wages war on the instrumental ensemble.
Label: New World Records Catalog Number: 80563-2 Format: CD Packaging: Jewel case Tracks: 5 Total Time: 49:31 Country: United States Released: 1999 More: Edwin Dugger, Robert Erickson, Phillip Rhodes, Harvey Sollberger, Peter Westergaard, New World Records
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