The Scott Chamber Players: Linda Scott, violin; Perry Scott, cello; Beverly Scott, viola; Gregory Scott Dugan, double bass; Sylvia Patterson-Scott, piano
The theme that Midsummer Variations varies appears not as usual as at the beginning of the piece but at the end: a meditative sequence of chords, more or less a chorale. The preceding variations on this chorale are not separate but instead continuous throughout, appearing in both melodic and harmonic dimensions. As in all variations, the intent is to take the theme in contrasting directions, texturally and expressively...
Although the expressive world of They Who Hunger ranges widely, its title and much of its tone arise from a scene increasingly familiar in urban America: streets filling with beggars and homeless while long dark-windowed limousines sweep past. This grotesque spectacle troubled my days and dreams as I composed. The title is taken from the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness’ sake....” My work is dedicated to the victims of the world, particularly the victims of governments, and most especially to those murdered by the Chinese government in the summer of 1989 and those brutalized by public policy on the streets of America every day... -Jan Swafford
The Piano Quartet is in four movements marked “anxiously,” “distantly-mournfully,” “wistfully,” and “restlessly,” The overall form of the Piano Quartet is rather traditional in nature, with a weighty opening movement, a sad and slow second movement, a dance-like, melancholy third movement, and an up-tempo, climactic closing movement. Although the individual movements are highly varied, all four feature a tension between opposing musical and emotional pulls and are driven by the search for a clarifying sense of purpose and resolution...
The String Trio contrasts the pull toward intensity and the desire for serenity, a tension reflected in the juxtaposition of harshly chromatic material against music of a more lyrical and diatonic nature. Constant textural variation and the recurrence of previously heard material, in new contexts and with new meanings, create the basic motion of the work’s three movements. -Glenn Gass
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.
Jan Swafford & Glenn Gass: Chamber Works
| 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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Midsummer Variations
Jan Swafford
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They Who Hunger
Jan Swafford
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Piano Quartet: I. anxiously
Glenn Gass
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Piano Quartet: II. distantly - mournfully
Glenn Gass
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Piano Quartet: III. wistfully
Glenn Gass
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Piano Quartet: IV. restlessly
Glenn Gass
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String Trio: I. With Motion
Glenn Gass
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String Trio: II. Almost Still
Glenn Gass
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String Trio: III. From a Cloud
Glenn Gass
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