Speculum Musicae Plays Music of Sanford, Rosenzweig, Moe
Liner Notes   Cat. No. NWCR705     Release Date: 2010-05-01
Speculum Musicae: Curtis Macomber, violin; Carol Zeavin, violin; Maureen Gallagher, viola; Eric Bartlett, cello; Michael Willens, double bass; Susan Palma Nidel, flute; Jayn Rosenfeld, flute; Stephen Taylor, oboe; Allen Blustine, clarinet, bass clarinet; David Krakauer, clarinet; Dennis Smylie, clarinets; Erik Charlston, bassoon; David Carroll, bassoon; Donald MacCourt, bassoon; William Purvis, horn; Aleck Karis, piano; Christopher Oldfather, piano; James Baker, percussion; William Purvis, Conductor; Donald Palma, Conductor; Morris Rosenzweig, Conductor

Chamber Concerto No. 3 was written for and dedicated to Speculum Musicae and was completed in April of 1992. Like my two previous concerti, there is a primary soloist, although other players are featured at various moments. Here, as in my first concerto, the primary soloist is the clarinet-the objective being to utilize the talents of Allen Blustine.

This work is also a continuation of musical and personal ideas explored in Chamber Concertos Nos. 1 and 2. While all three pieces have Schumann's Manfried as an influence, No. 3 returns to some of the literal quotations used in Canto. It also involves the jazz aesthetic of No. 2 without employing the standard rhythm section and improvisation from that composition. At its core are concerns developed by Charles Mingus and Jack Walrath on the album Me, Myself an Eye released by Atlantic Records in 1978. - David Sanford

Delta, the Perfect King, begun in 1986 and completed in 1989, is based on real, mythical and imaginary episodes from the short life of Robert Johnson (1911-1938), King of the Delta Blues Singers. There is, however, no particularly straight-lined tale telling here in the Straussian sense, as these life episodes have been shifted, expanded, contracted, crisscrossed and flexibly molded into a sort of music-cartoon. - Morris Rosenzweig

Kicking and Screaming is a concerto for piano and a pocket orchestra of ten instruments. The relationship between piano and orchestra throughout is considerably thornier than it is in most classical concerti. From the beginning, the piano and the rest of the ensemble are on different rhythmic wavelengths: in general, the piano favors duple subdivisions, while the ensemble favors triplet subdivisions. The piano does occasionally drag an unwilling instrument (kicking and screaming?) into its rhythmic orbit, and in turn is sometimes persuaded to cooperate with the group. For the most part, however, piano and ensemble go their separate ways, with moments of uneasy compromise and collaboration.
-Eric Moe


This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available for order from New World Records as an on-demand CD (CD-R). It can also be downloaded in MP3/320, FLAC and/or WAV format(s).

Speculum Musicae

Speculum Musicae Plays Music of Sanford, Rosenzweig, Moe

MP3/320 $9.99
FLAC $9.99
WAV $9.99
CD-R $9.99
CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print material or jewel case included.
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
   Liner Notes



Track Listing

Chamber Concerto No. 3: I.
David Sanford
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Chamber Concerto No. 3: II.
David Sanford
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Chamber Concerto No. 3: III.
David Sanford
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Chamber Concerto No. 3: IV.
David Sanford
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Delta, The Perfect King
Morris Rosenzweig
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Kicking and Screaming: I. With Great Energy and Sweep
Eric Moe
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Kicking and Screaming: II. Andante
Eric Moe
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Kicking and Screaming: III. Extremely Incisive and Energetic
Eric Moe
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