Balakauskas: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5

Osvaldas Balakauskas (Composer), Juozas Domarkas (Conductor), Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra Vilnius (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra Vilnius
• Conductor: Juozas Domarkas
• Composer: Osvaldas Balakauskas
• Audio CD (November 15, 2005)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B000BK53DS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,066 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Baltic Jazz, December 4, 2006

By 

Steven Apergis (Burke, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Balakauskas: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5 (Audio CD)

This music is very unusual and is probably would not be everyones cup of tea. These symphonies remind me much of the late 20th century music that has come out the Scandanvian and Baltic countries. Although it is atonal, it appears to me that this music evolved out of aesthetics of Sibelius. The closest composers that this music sounds like are Vasks and Rauravaara.

There is a unique twist here. There is a strong jazz element. In the fourth symphony I can hear a blues structure in many of the melodies.

The jazz influence really comes through in the fifth symphony. During the final movement I had the feeling I was listening to atonal latin music ala Morton Gould.

If one is interested in classical jazz, he should give this a try.

5.0 out of 5 stars Music for concert hall or dance hall?, November 27, 2009

By 

Hayward H. Siegel (East Meadow, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Balakauskas: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5 (Audio CD)

Symphony No. 4 is not melodic, but is abstract in nature. There are 3 movements, with each movement consisting of music based upon different scales of tones. They are 8, 11 and 10, respectively. The 1st movement contains a hint of the sound of the blues. The next movement is a little more jazzy and also contains sounds of the blues. Sounds of the blues can also be heard in the final movement. Throughout this Symphony, there is experimentation with the different tone scales, as well as with the various instruments and sections of the orchestra; interesting forms of harmony and dissonance are created. Symphony No. 5 is a 21st Century composition, and is a musical treat. It is in 4 movements, abstract in nature, and full of themes which remind one of jazz, the blues, and big band sounds. The 4th movement is somewhat dance-like and has a Latin beat to it. Close your eyes and you will wonder if you are in a concert hall or dance hall. I recommend this recording to those interested in contemporary symphonies.