Luminaries

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Free Music Notes for Luminaries

Free Music Review: Varied and fascinating North Texas disc
Hit: 4 Stars

Opening with a band transcription of Dmitri Shostakovich's "Prelude No. 14 in E-flat minor," which immediately presents the rich, dark tessituras of which the wind symphony is capable, the disc segues to another brief Shostakovich work - the much-lighter, more martial "Folk Dances." Using various Russian folk melodies, the piece culminates with both an accelerando and crescendo toward a rousing finish. Young composer and Northern Arizona alumnus Eric Whitacre's "Ghost Train Triptych" follows. Whitacre, who recently completed graduate work at Julliard, has enjoyed growing popularity with musicians and audiences everywhere for his works. On a personal note, I recently participated in the Nebraska Wind Consortium premiere of his deep and moving "October" (2000). "Ghost Train," in its three movements, attempts to evoke an impression of the ghost train legend, deeply rooted in American folklore. The piece is characteristic of much of Whitacre's other music, with its polytonalities and jazz-tinged harmonies. Very interesting and very satisfying, this is a true find among recorded band music.

Japanese composer Yasuhide Ito contributes his moving "Gloriosa," which is a three movement work inspired by the "hidden Christians" of Kyushu, who continued to practice their faith in secret despite its abolition in 1614. Ito notes how the Latin words of Gregorian chants "were gradually 'Japanized' during the two hundred years of hidden practice." "Gloriosa," composed as a lament for the Christian suffering effectively blends elements of Gregorian chant and Japanese folk. Paul Hindemith's oft-recorded "Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber" concludes this CD, receiving a generally good performance, although section balances leave a bit to be desired at times. In all fairness, one cannot always compare each "Metamorphosis" to, say, the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra's rendition. The "March" on the North Texas disc though, is the most exciting this listener has heard anywhere.

In all, this compact disc will likely hold the most appeal for band aficionados. Many people I've personally encountered outside of bands and orchestras (who claim to enjoy classical music) are almost immediately turned off to "band" music. Despite all its viability as a serious medium for artistic expression, bands and true music for the wind ensemble has been and always will be a different brand of classical music. Recommended for wind music enthusiasts or those curious to hear more substantial literature than that to which they were exposed in school. The Whitacre and Ito will make it worth it, believe me.

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