Search - David Maslanka, Steven Jordheim, Dane Richeson :: Music Of David Maslanka

Good album, but some problems

gunta03 | Morgantown, WV United States | 01/05/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a great cd to study and analyze the chamber music of David Maslanka. A lot of people tend to not like his freelance approach to classical music, but let's face it...he's really good. I have never listened to any other classical composer who literally challenges the musicians abilities and control to the extreme more than David Maslanka. With the saxophone, he uses a lot of special techniques for saxophone like altissimo, multiphonics and some pitch-bending. Both pieces by Maslanka prove that the saxophone is without a doubt one of the most versatile musical instruments ever created. The playing of Steven Jordheim is pretty good with excellent control. However I do feel that he used way too much vibrato in both pieces. Listening to it made it kind of annoying and boring after a while. Plus, the way how it was recorded wasn't all that good either. There was too much saxophone volume during certain spots where the piano seemed dominant and more important. Otherwise, good album"

Monoliths from Maslanka

khyrand | Decatur, GA | 12/15/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Jordheim et al. play musically and technically challenging music with equanimity. I particularly recommend this CD for its inclusion of the Song Book for Alto Saxophone and Marimba--a lesser-known work for an unusual ensemble, presented here by a fine pair of artists. The piece lacks the (admittedly few) problems I have with Maslanka's saxophone sonata, namely repetitiveness...indeed, Song Book is deceptively simple but well worth a listen."