Neil Rolnick - Gardening at Gropius House (2013)
Contemporary Classical, Electronic | Innova 877 | 2013 | 59:28 | EAC (FLAC, cue, log) | Full Scans | Various File Hosts | 288 MB
Alarm Will Sound, Todd Reynolds (violin), Alan Pierson (conductor), Neil Rolnick (laptop computer), San Francisco Conservatory New Music Ensemble, Maya Kherani (soprano), Carrie Zhang (alto), Daniel Cilli (baritone), Nicole Paiement (conductor)
Neil Rolnick's (b. 1947) latest work is a seamless marriage of musical styles, of organic melody and edgy live digital processing. The release includes two 30-minute pieces for big ensemble, soloist and computer. In exploring those two threads of modernism and melody Neil integrates the disparate elements seemingly effortlessly. The music is rhythmic and has a delightfully appealing exuberance. The first - and title - piece has a nice sense of drama and flair. The second track - Anosmia - has a playful nature and highlights the vocals. It's described as a monodrama for three singers, computer and ensemble... The piece draws on a variety of Western musical idioms - including doo-wop...