Extraordinary listening experience
Ryan Morris | Chicago, IL | 01/20/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love this disc. I absolutely adore it. It is interesting how my ears have evolved since I bought it over ten years ago. The first time I put it in, still in romantic Beethoven is the only god phase, I thought it was worthless trash. Currently, it is one of my favourite discs to play. Arthur Berger's orchestral music has many different categories. the opening track is like Copland mixed with Webern. The second track is much more difficult, more academic, and not as apporachable. The Serenade Concertante is marvelous. Berger couples the instramental refinement of Webern matched with the melodic and thematic inclinations of a Copland or Stravinsky, that is obviously just a generalization because more than anything else, Berger is his own man with his own soundworld. The textures are like stained glass, delicate, yet colourful. Light and breezy like you can almost see through them. Very extraordinary stuff. I would suggest this to anyone, regardless of their classical affiliations[serialism, romantic, super modernist, blimp-bloop] because really it encompasses almost every category.
I would also recommend his Retrospective disc, his CRI disc containing his masterful String Quartet, and his piano works.
If you like George Perle, the instrumental quality of Boulez, and the gentle textures of Webern, this is something you might not have heard of that you will be thankful for that you tried. THe best way I could descibe this music is that it is like a more approachable Webern.
OF THE HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION"