BMOP Concert
Jan. 28th, 2008 09:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariI always enjoy going to Boston Modern Orchestra Project concerts. Their programming is varied and adventurous. Friday's concert did not disappoint.
Osnat Netzer - Common Ground
I really liked the crystal clear, varied, and creative orchestration in this piece. The material was quite attractive and had s subtle feeling of underlying menace.
Ezra Sims - Concert Piece II
Ezra Sims is a microtonal composer. I'm not often convinced by microtonal works, and this did not buck that trend. The first movement had a very interesting section that paired a drawn out line in the solo clarinets with a relentless accompaniment figure of repeated notes. And there was one brief part in the piece that sounded like it could be the soundtrack for a Quay Brothers animation. However, I thought that the microtonal element gave the piece a strained feel, as if the soloists were groping towards something without knowing where it was.
William Bolcom - Violin Concerto in D
This piece straddled the line between clever referencing and derivative pastiche in its use of material drawn from jazz, blues, and swing. The first movement did have an entertaining sly wit and charm that was recalled in the third movement. The second movement had some great, warm harmonies. Nonetheless, there was a bit too much of the overly cute and the too sentimental.
Michael Gandolfi - Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra
I love his music - I have yet to hear a work of his that I didn't like. This piece was gorgeous, and I really want to hear it again. The first movement had some bits in the orchestra part that reminded me of a vastly improved Phillip Glass. The second had this wonderfully warm, rich, and expansive string writing. The third movement had a terrific spry theme. The whole piece sounded great and was continually interesting. The only small criticism I might give is that, while the solo part was quite good, the orchestra kind of outshone it.
Leon Kirchner - Toccata for Strings, Solo Winds, and Percussion
Unfortunately, the last piece on a concert sometimes gets short shrift from me as far as engaged listening goes if I get tired; this was one of those occasions. This intense piece had some piquant dissonances a pleasingly big, sharp ending.
Osnat Netzer - Common Ground
I really liked the crystal clear, varied, and creative orchestration in this piece. The material was quite attractive and had s subtle feeling of underlying menace.
Ezra Sims - Concert Piece II
Ezra Sims is a microtonal composer. I'm not often convinced by microtonal works, and this did not buck that trend. The first movement had a very interesting section that paired a drawn out line in the solo clarinets with a relentless accompaniment figure of repeated notes. And there was one brief part in the piece that sounded like it could be the soundtrack for a Quay Brothers animation. However, I thought that the microtonal element gave the piece a strained feel, as if the soloists were groping towards something without knowing where it was.
William Bolcom - Violin Concerto in D
This piece straddled the line between clever referencing and derivative pastiche in its use of material drawn from jazz, blues, and swing. The first movement did have an entertaining sly wit and charm that was recalled in the third movement. The second movement had some great, warm harmonies. Nonetheless, there was a bit too much of the overly cute and the too sentimental.
Michael Gandolfi - Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra
I love his music - I have yet to hear a work of his that I didn't like. This piece was gorgeous, and I really want to hear it again. The first movement had some bits in the orchestra part that reminded me of a vastly improved Phillip Glass. The second had this wonderfully warm, rich, and expansive string writing. The third movement had a terrific spry theme. The whole piece sounded great and was continually interesting. The only small criticism I might give is that, while the solo part was quite good, the orchestra kind of outshone it.
Leon Kirchner - Toccata for Strings, Solo Winds, and Percussion
Unfortunately, the last piece on a concert sometimes gets short shrift from me as far as engaged listening goes if I get tired; this was one of those occasions. This intense piece had some piquant dissonances a pleasingly big, sharp ending.
