Lynne Webber, soprano; Eric Rosenblith, violin; Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble; David Stock, Conductor: [Raymond Eichenmuller, violin; Martin Bernstein, cello; Jeffrey Mangone, bass; David Tessmer, piccolo, flute; Linda George, oboe, English horn; James Wilson, clarinet, bass clarinet; Richard Page, bass clarinet; Ivan Engle, bassoon; Beverly Nero, piano; Jan Fung, percussion; Brian Del Signore, percussion]

David Stock writes:

"Triple Play was written in 1970 for one of my students at the New England Conservatory who was a piccolo (not fute!) major. Initial sketches were for piccolo and double bass only, but when I added the percussion part, all the repressed jazz energy of my college days, long absent in my music, seemed to come pouring out. Many of my subsequent works, much to my surprise, have drawn on this element of jazz, although I was never a jazz player, but rather an arranger, song writer, and fan. I conducted the frst performance at the New England Conservatory in the spring of 1970.

"The next project upon which I embarked was to be a work for soprano and a few instruments with the unique voice of Phyllis Bryn-Julson in mind. I asked Phyllis to suggest a text, but since none came forth immediately, I started composing, as I always have, by using the nonsense-syllables of scat singing. Before long, I discovered that I had, indeed, found my text.

"Scat was written in 1970-71 for the Boston Musica Viva, Richard Pittman, conductor, which gave the frst performance. Because of the diffculties of the vocal line, I was unsure whether anyone other than Phyllis would be able to perform it, but I am delighted that at least two other outstanding sopranos, Elsa Charlston (who premiered it) and Lynne Webber, have mastered the part. The voice is treated as a slightly-more-than-equal partner to the instruments.

"The Philosophers Stone was written in 1979-80 on a Fellowship/Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, as a vehicle for Eric Rosenblith. The premiere, with the present forces, took place in Pittsburgh in March 1982.

"In the medieval world of alchemy, scholars sought the philosopher's stone, which would transform base metals into gold. In reality of course, it was the human soul they sought to transform."

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.