Another Winner from Maslanka and the Illinois State Universi
J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 05/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"David Maslanka is to wind band music these days what Morten Lauridsen and John Rutter are to choral music. That is to say, he writes immediately attractive, widely popular, easily assimilable and entirely tonal music that is full of original touches that repay many hearings. This CD, one of many of his music that are currently available, and one of several that are played by the Illinois State University Wind Symphony, contains two works that are to all intents and purposes concertos, one for clarinet and band, and the other for percussionist and band. Maslanka has written ten concertos for soloist and wind band and these are the most recent ones.
'Desert Roads', subtitled 'Four Songs for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble', was written in 2005. Song One, 'Desert Roads', depicts 'a time of inner searching'. It is striking for its melodic richness and its stunning use of tuned percussion and harp. 'Soliloquy -- Not Knowing' is a brief movement that begins with a questing cadenza for unaccompanied clarinet that, when joined by the full ensemble, becomes more and more frenzied and anguished. 'Coming Home', by far the work's longest movement at twelve minutes, is a journey ending in the serenity of a return to the peace and comfort of home. It is dedicated to the memory of the late Frederick Fennell, long the dean of the American symphonic wind ensemble movement and a mentor of Maslanka's. It contains virtuosic writing for not only the clarinet but also for some of the other wind instruments of the ensemble. 'Prayer for Tender Voices in the Darkness' is, in Maslanka's words 'a sober contemplation of death -- a benediction.' The work's nonpareil clarinet soloist David Gresham, long the clarinetist in the acclaimed New York chamber group Continuum, teaches at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. The Illinois State wind ensemble cannot be complimented highly enough for their extraordinary work, and the same is true for their noted conductor, Stephen K. Steele.
'David's Book', written in 2006, is a concerto for percussion soloist and wind ensemble. The title, 'David's Book', denotes that the work was written by one David, David Maslanka, for another, the percussionist David Collier, who is a professor of percussion at Illinois State. In five movements, three of the movements are named for and based on Bach chorales: I Today is the Great Day of Suffering ('Heut' ist, o Mensch, ein grosser Trauertag'), II We Believe in One God ('Wir glauben all' in einen Gott'), and V It is Enough ('Es ist genug'). The chorales are reharmonized by Maslanka. Writing for the percussionist includes extensive use of a specially-selected set of twenty-two Tibetan Singing Bowls which have an eerie, hypnotic sound. The briefer movements III and IV have titles taken from (and inspired by) 'The Old Gringo' by Carlos Fuentes: III Your soul and your dreams are instantaneous ... and IV Unforgettable wounds .... The overall impression made by this work is one of ethereality, serenity, even spirituality. A striking work played with muscular grace and musicality by Collier and the ensemble.
Recorded sound is exemplary. This CD is one to which I know I'll be returning again and again.
Scott Morrison"
Track Listings (2) - Disc #1