Search - Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Gavin Bryars :: Minimal Tendencies

An all-around great purchase

04/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's often hard to find recordings which feature a number of so-called minimalist composers, so right off the bat this disc scores in a big way. I originally purchased this CD for the new version of Glass' 3rd string quartet (here played as a sax quartet), but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the other pieces. Steve Reich's New York Counterpoint is truly one of his masterpieces, and Michael Nyman's Songs for Tony would certainly be a good introduction to his quirky style. For me, the winning track on this disc is Gavin Bryar's Alaric I or II. Prior to purchasing this recording, I had not heard any of Bryar's work, but this piece instantly put him in my favorite composers list. The piece takes minimalism into new territory with its use of multiphonics and by conveying the minimalist aesthetic without being overly redundant. Both of these aspects make this piece approachable by the conservative twelve-tone and atonal academic composers of our time. The Delta Saxophone Quartet's rendition of Glass' string quartet is truly inspiring (although some tempos stray a little too far from the original recording). This CD is a must-have for those who like Glass' music, and it might just open you up to some other great composers as well."