★★★★★
Since ASO Media has seemingly moved away from recording this kind of repertoire, perhaps this 2011 project needs some critical attention. As I've written elsewhere, Robert Spano has created a world-class ensemble in the American South that rivals any major orchestra working today. In new and exciting works, especially those with chorus, they have literally no peer...
- www.classical.net
2014-12-18
★★★★★
Summary for the Busy Executive: Strange imaginary landscapes. I seem to find myself on the outs with most classical-music lovers, simply because I don't a priori hate contemporary music. I find I keep saner by judging each piece as it comes and by remembering that at least eighty percent of all music is crap, including the music of the 18th and 19th centuries, the breeding ground of so many favorites. For every Brahms, there are scores of Waleskas...
- www.classical.net
2010-10-08
★★★★★
"this project started with a commission from eighth blackbird and ben broening to create a multi-channel composition for the university of richmond's third practice electroacoustic music festival. i wrote out a set of instructions for each musician and recorded them separately from the rest of the group. the first sessions were with molly, michael, nick and lisa...
- www.mimaroglumusicsales.com
2009-07-10
★★★★★
Eighth Blackbird is an amazingly talented sextet consisting of flutes, clarinets, violin/viola, cello, percussion, and piano. The sound this highly versatile ensemble makes is extraordinary, from the most refined chamber textures to what at times sounds like a full orchestra. The four works included here cover a huge range of styles, and each one is well worth hearing...
- www.classicstoday.com
2009-06-06
★★★★★
It's really good to have a disc of Frederic Rzewski's instrumental music, even if two of the works recorded here are arrangements (authorized by the composer). Les Moutons de Panurge is a rambunctious game of counting sheep--a melody that grows by adding a note on each repetition, with the process then reversed, all at high speed...
- www.classicstoday.com
2009-06-06
★★★★★
The six performers that comprise Eighth Blackbird play with such breathtaking virtuosity that it's very tempting to sit back and simply gasp in admiration. This is particularly the case when, as here, the program is so interesting and intelligently designed. All of the music on this disc exploits a vast range of timbral effects while taking in a very wide stylistic range from one composer to the next...
- www.classicstoday.com
2009-06-06