Joan Tower: Made in America

Joan Tower (Composer), Leonard Slatkin (Conductor), Nashville Symphony (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Nashville Symphony
• Conductor: Leonard Slatkin
• Composer: Joan Tower
• Audio CD (May 29, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos American
• ASIN: B000OQDRWI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,980 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Two of the works recorded here are world premiere recordings: "Made in America" and "Tambor." The first uses "America the Beautiful" as its first melodic theme, and bits of it appear throughout the work. Tower interweaves the melodic fragments with many other original tunes, and she colors the work in what could be called the American idiom, with wide-open spaces. There is a central section of a darker nature, but the work ends in glory. "Tambor" is dominated by percussion of all kinds – drums, blocks, etc. – and is an exciting, propulsive work. There are long periods of solos for percussion instruments that act almost as mini-cadenzas. The Concerto for Orchestra is a terrific work that uses the sections of the orchestra as solos, duets and in bunches. Standout moments are a remarkable tuba solo, a dueling duet for trumpets, and a part for the cellos alone. It's a flavorful, fascinating work. Leonard Slatkin leads the Nashville Symphony in excellent performances. --Robert Levine

Product Description

2008 GRAMMY Award Winner: Classical Album, Orchestral Performance and Classical Contemporary Composition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely first class in every respect, July 18, 2007

By 

CD Maniac (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joan Tower: Made in America (Audio CD)

The is the most outstanding disc to date by the Nashville Symphony. It is the first to feature their new music advisor, Leonard Slatkin, their first in their outstanding new symphony hall in Nashville, and their first with American music from a living composer. And it all comes together perfectly.
The music is first rate, the orchestra is at their best, and the sonics are some of the best heard on CD.
Joan Tower's music is always rhythmically exciting, and she certainly is enjoying a well-deserved Renaissance as she approaches 70. Slatkin has been championing her music for years, and this return to her music is quitting fitting later in both their careers.
"Made in America" is quite a remarkable achievement--an outstanding composition written within the parameters of being playable by most community orchestras. "Tambor" is most definitely a much more demanding work for the musicians, with extraordinary percussion playing required (which Nashville delivers).
But the truly outstanding work is Tower's "Concerto for Orchestra", a brilliant piece of music that not only displays virtuosity, but musicality. It deserves a permanent place in the repertoire.
The Nashville Symphony may have once been a small regional orchestra--but no longer. Their rise in quality and stature is well-deserved, and this disc shows that they are more than capable in handling even the most difficult technically demanding repertoire. The fact that world-class conductor Leonard Slatkin has taken an interest in them speaks volumes.
Most highly recommended.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Entertaining and Accessible, November 22, 2008

By 

Moldyoldie (Motown, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joan Tower: Made in America (Audio CD)

I picked this up at the library on a whim; it's my introduction to Joan Tower. All three of the works here are colorful, dynamic, and readily accessible compositions which are sure to please those who love the orchestra. Made in America is described as a fantasy on the theme of the "unofficial" national anthem, "America the Beautiful". While we hear the occasional allusion, it mostly invokes in me thoughts of Copland cum Shostakovich. Tambor, as the title suggests, is loaded with percussion of every stripe; it's also a whole lot of fun! Despite those two works being the main attraction as "world premieres", it's the two-part Concerto for Orchestra that provides the most substantive listening with a marvelously blended half-hour amalgam of solos and incredibly alert ensemble playing.

Perhaps it's the male chauvinist in me which led me to expect something a little more, uh, feminine in nature -- not so! This CD with Leonard Slatkin leading the Nashville Symphony is top-drawer for powerful, committed virtuoso symphonic performance and vivid sonic impact -- a most entertaining hour of music, if not necessarily the most original or profound.

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Congratulations to Ms. Tower, Mr. Slatkin and the Nashville Symph. For Best Classical Album Grammy Win!, February 11, 2008

By 

Christopher Beckwith (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Joan Tower: Made in America (Audio CD)

And Congratulations to Naxos, that intrepid label that keeps bringing the public both premier contemporary works as well as new performances of canon works, both obscure and well-known. And at affordable prices! A marvelous win for all of you!