Liner Notes
Cat. No. NWCR898
Release Date: 2007-01-01
Curtis Macomber, violin
As Casting Ecstatic unfolds, one pictures Curtis Macomber standing center stage like a Shakespearean actor alone in the spotlight, delivering solo violin lines like soliloquies. From plaintive angst to crazed passion, each performance feels like a glimpse into a guarded internal world.
This album—Macomber’s third dedicated to exploring repertoire for violin alone or with tape—confirms his reputation for superior performances of these soul-baring unaccompanied works. Previous CDs have included pieces by composers such as Elliott Carter, Mario Davidovsky, John Harbison, Shulamit Ran, and Roger Sessions. Macomber’s interest in this type of challenging repertoire has been something of a career-long passion. “Every composer has a solo piece,” he explains, “but they have different ways of approaching the violin expressively and technically. It’s fascinating to delve into that.”
And delve he has, developing a sophisticated approach to this type of repertoire. Here once again, what is remarkable in each of his performances is an obvious sensitivity to each composer’s language and a noticeable lack of pretension in his delivery. Works scored with as much technical flash as these could have quickly resulted in an album of showpieces of little depth, but while the listener may revel in Macomber’s technical skill, his interpretations lead one to explore the emotional and intellectual depth of each piece.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
As Casting Ecstatic unfolds, one pictures Curtis Macomber standing center stage like a Shakespearean actor alone in the spotlight, delivering solo violin lines like soliloquies. From plaintive angst to crazed passion, each performance feels like a glimpse into a guarded internal world.
This album—Macomber’s third dedicated to exploring repertoire for violin alone or with tape—confirms his reputation for superior performances of these soul-baring unaccompanied works. Previous CDs have included pieces by composers such as Elliott Carter, Mario Davidovsky, John Harbison, Shulamit Ran, and Roger Sessions. Macomber’s interest in this type of challenging repertoire has been something of a career-long passion. “Every composer has a solo piece,” he explains, “but they have different ways of approaching the violin expressively and technically. It’s fascinating to delve into that.”
And delve he has, developing a sophisticated approach to this type of repertoire. Here once again, what is remarkable in each of his performances is an obvious sensitivity to each composer’s language and a noticeable lack of pretension in his delivery. Works scored with as much technical flash as these could have quickly resulted in an album of showpieces of little depth, but while the listener may revel in Macomber’s technical skill, his interpretations lead one to explore the emotional and intellectual depth of each piece.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Curtis Macomber: Casting Ecstatic - Solo Works for Violin
| MP3/320 | $9.99 | |
| FLAC | $9.99 | |
| WAV | $9.99 | |
| CD-R | $9.99 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Casting Ecstatic
Allen Anderson
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Buy
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Sonata: I. Scena
Nicholas Maw
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Buy
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Sonata: II. March-Burlesque
Nicholas Maw
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Buy
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Sonata: III. Tombeau
Nicholas Maw
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Buy
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Sonata: IV. Flight
Nicholas Maw
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Buy
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Sonata for Solo Violin: I. Praeludium
Martin Boykan
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Buy
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Sonata for Solo Violin: II. Allegro
Martin Boykan
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Buy
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Sonata for Solo Violin: III. Arioso
Martin Boykan
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Buy
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Sonata for Solo Violin: IV. Fuga
Martin Boykan
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Buy
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Sonata for Solo Violin: V. Chorale
Martin Boykan
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Buy
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Keeping Company
Arthur Kreiger
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Buy
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