Leonard Bernstein’s Mass : Newer Recordings

The sources for the history and overview of Mass include Anthony Tommasini's 2018 New York Times piece, "Is ‘Mass’ Leonard Bernstein’s Best Work, or His Worst?", the work description on the Leonard Bernstein Office website and Wikipedia. The controversy over Leonard Bernstein’s Mass began with its premiere in 1971. In his review for The New …

American Original : Harry Partch (June 24, 1901 – September 3, 1974)

"I am not an instrument-maker, but a philosophical music-man seduced into carpentry." American composer Harry Partch (1901-1974) had a musical vision for which 12-toned instruments were not enough. His objection to the standard western classical scale wasn’t so much along the philosophical lines of Schoenberg and other early 20th-century atonalists; he was mainly frustrated by …

Scott Miller : high adventure avant garde music of the best sort

Scott Miller is a composer of electroacoustic, orchestral, chamber, choral and multimedia works described as ‘high adventure avant garde music of the best sort’ (Classical-Modern Music Review) and 'inspir[ing] real hope & optimism for the future of electroacoustic music.' (5against4.com). Known for his interactive electroacoustic chamber music and experimental performance pieces, Miller has twice been named a …

Terry Riley : Requiem for Adam

Terrence Mitchell "Terry" Riley is an American composer and performing musician associated with the minimalist school of Western classical music, of which he was a pioneer. His work is deeply influenced by both jazz and Indian classical music.  Requiem for Adam is a studio album by the Kronos Quartet. The music was composed by Terry Riley, commissioned …

At last, Lukas Foss : Complete Symphonies

Released last month by the  Boston Modern Orchestra Project, this 2 disc recording collects all of the symphonies by Lukas Foss.  Even if these were not good performances - they  are - this would be a valuable recording since Foss's symphonies have been unjustly neglected. Mr. Foss was, from the start of his composing career, considered an …

The Pleasure Dome of Charles Tomlinson Griffes

Charles Tomlinson Griffes (born Elmira, NY, 17 Sept 1884; died New York, 8 April 1920). American composer. His earliest musical studies were piano lessons with his sister Katharine. In about 1899 he began to study the piano with Mary Selena Broughton, who taught at Elmira College and who had a profound influence on his personal …