Search - Sasha Matson :: Steel Chords 1-5

Adventurous ground for the pedal steel guitar

Bob Lee | Cloverdale, CA USA | 09/11/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"California composer Sasha Matson is a modernist with a sweet spot for harmonious timbres. As a steel guitarist, I was most interested in "Steel Chords". Incorporating a pedal steel into a small chamber orchestra playing modern music is an interesting premise, and Matson proceeds cautiously. The pedal steel part is rather tame, suggesting that Matson doesn't fully understand the potential of the instrument.Steel guitarist Doug Livingston performs the part flawlessly, and the entire ensemble embraces Matson's score lovingly, though. This is fine listening for a late afternoon, and it relaxes the senses in spite of the dissonance we have come to expect from modern music.My only complaint is that the steel guitar could have been louder in the mix. "Steel Chords" is the only modern classical piece I know of that features the pedal steel. It's a pity that we can't always tell what the instrument is doing.-Bob Lee"