to move. No long, slow pieces here - the works have been chosen for their quick rhythms, intricate keyboard play, and energy! Chopin's Op. 53, Polonaise in A Flat ( Heroic) is a perfect example of this music. One of the composer's most popular pieces, it requires exceptional technical skill and even virtuosity in order to be played properly. Energetic and flowing, it has been said that Chopin had a free and significant Poland in mind while composing, which may be why the piece is labeled a polonaise, when in fact it is much more energetic than the typical. Sure to start a day off with a bang, this collection is the perfect morning addition to any classical repertoire.  (less)

Topher has matured has has explored with equal depth other composers - Bach, Chopin and Mozart. As he has stated, " this music, properly played and understood within it's own context, is all about emotion." As the third artist to complete this three disc set, DiLaurentis was given free reign to pick the tracks that would make up Classical Piano Volume Three - as if anyone could tell him what tracks to play anyway! Topher went to work, examining his vast knowledge of western classical music, and came up with an album that has to be heard to be believed. But in the end, he was guided by the quote." it is all about emotion - I thought of what I would like to hear during the holiday season and interpreted the tracks in that way." The r...  (less)

the greatest and most popular music ever written for the piano. Chopin's Sonata in B minor, the last of the three he wrote, was composed in 1844. Its flow of musical ideas is closely related to the romantic rhapsodies of Schumann and Liszt. Thematic ideas flow into place one after the other, in a performance by Eroica artist Shoshana Rudiakov that is both musically fascinating and technically demanding. Working within this free form, Chopin has created a work of classical proportions. The principal theme is nicely and successfully balanced by the nocturne-like second movement, and the development follows an almost Beethovinian course to the climax, which is one of Chopin's rare forays into contrapuntal regions. Contrary to the "rules", he omits the shor...  (less)

back to some fictional jazz squiggle where swing, bebop, and hard bop all coexisted in a playful mix. Forrester's compatriots in the Illustrious Others are awesome, especially vocalist Shelley Hirsch, whose warbly pitch-shifts entertain and spur the band--especially its horn-wielders--to surprising heights of mischief, always in the context of a tune (as opposed to a full-on avant-garde blast). Forrester's clipped fingerings on the piano get good props, too, with "Mary" inviting comparison to so much of the Downtown 20th-century classical music scene. All in all, the flexing of this band is best captured when the full roster of seven musicians is swinging and, not surprisingly, soprano saxophonist Phillip Johnston sounds spectacula...  (less)

each composition is unique unto itself. Reminiscent of the classical symphonies of days gone by, the lush, expansive string passages move with passion. The instrumentation is classical layered with ethereal sounds. The leading violins, bells for spicing and the soulful acoustic guitar, along with Aliya's haunting voice, and flowing piano creates a beautiful concert of sound.  (less)

funk, free Jazz (Cecil Taylor?), the Fugue, and an unholy alliance of straight sounding neo-classicism and its subsequent assault by the forces of percussive militancy." - Jonathan Woolf - MUISCWEB !!! "...court jester to the classical establishment..." -- American Record Guide !!! "Gary Noland is the Richard Strauss of the 21st century."-- Guillermo Galindo !!! "...art music certainly needs Noland's Satie-esque humor." -- Eugene Weekly !!! "Clever, pretty, and very listenable classical solo piano music. Post-romantic, post-impressionist, with little nods to ragtime and silent movie soundtracks. Resolutely melodic, without pretenses. Instead of the usual blather about how clever the performer is, the liner notes are an allegory about...  (less)

Twyla Tharp's dialog-free pop ballet based on Joel's infectious canon of music, including his recent forays into the classical realm. This live cast recording is fueled by the piano and vocals of Michael Cavanaugh, who, backed by an ensemble handpicked by the songwriter, gooses every last drop of drama from Joel's already theatrical songs with a verve worthy of the legend himself. But divorced from Tharp's always kinetic choreography, and despite angular reworkings of "We Didn't Start the Fire" and other Joel standards, it's a collection that sometimes sounds akin to Joelmania: not really Billy, but an incredible simulation. --Jerry McCulley  (less)

arrangements alongside traditional Celtic sounds and keyboard programming on a collection of richly crafted songs. From the rousing opening track, 'Prayer' to the mystical closer, 'Time', Becky sings with total conviction and showcases the depth of her extraordinary voice. The songs, by a wide range of songwriters, are drawn from different corners of the musical world - love themes from the movies ('Now We Are Free' from Gladiator and 'It Is You' from Shrek), a 19th century poem set to haunting piano ('The Bluebird'), classic songs such as 'From A Distance' made famous by Bette Midler and 'Into White', the little-covered 1971 gem by Cat Stevens and the mighty 'Time', a powerhouse of a song written by the great and multi-million selling song ...  (less)

California in particular) that still holds abroad: an America free from the weight of European tradition, a privileged space where a fusion of Western and Eastern cultural trends can be produced. It is interesting to note that the most significant musical influences on Riley’s style—blues, jazz and Indian classical music—share relevant common features: modal structures and improvisatory practices intended as careful treatment of a set of more or less strict, codified rules. By emphasizing common ground, Riley reconciles different cultures within the same inventive fusing process. Uncle Jard (1998) (saxophone quartet, piano, harpsichord, and voice) offers an example of this. In this piece, Indian classical music a...  (less)

Sick, and graced by special guests oboist Nancy Rumbel and guitarist Eric Tingstad. Destined to be a hidden flower in a desert of synthesizer music,the all-acoustic sound of Open Sky will delight your senses, inspire your heart, and soothe your spirit." Touching melodies and unbridled creativity await listeners on the gorgeous sophomore album from Jeanette Alexander titled OPEN SKY. Alexander's vivid compositions are equal parts classical sophistication and romantic abandon - beautiful flights of fancy that set the spirit free. "Common Ground," one of the album's most powerful works, is like an ode to lost love and bittersweet youthful memories. The interplay between Alexander's poignant piano melodies and t...  (less)

to catch up in terms of repertoire, but this remarkable disc displays the diverse voices that can be heard in this form. The Finn Segerstam has been best known as an orchestral conductor and a very prolific composer (as of January 2nd of this year, he had composed 173 symphonies). This Trio is a perfect example of the free-flowing, almost improvisational style he calls free-pulsative. Needless to say, Hans Werner Henze has now achieved status as one of the world s most significant composers, and his early Kammersonate reflects the neo-classical influences of the post-War era. Both Sharafyan and Mansurian are Armenian. Sharafyan s music is rooted in ancient Armenian culture, while Mansurian s approach is in a more personalized, mystical vein. Finally, ...  (less)

and "Stars Fell on Alabama" (Parish / Perkins), and seven free improvisations by Eyran. Pianists Paul Bley and Ran Blake, radio producer Richard Knisely and Chair of extension Jazz department at New England Conservatory David Zoffer were involved in this production: The piece "Brilliant Corners" was recorded live for Classical Mornings, produced by Knisely for WGBH. Bley co-produced some of the recording sessions in the Music Room studio and the piece "Mother Goose" is titled after his statement: "Eyran is like Mother Goose - every egg he lays is a golden egg"! Blake and Zoffer titled "Grey January" and "Physics" respectively and helped throughout the three years long process of listening and choosing the pieces for the CD fro...  (less)