Customer Reviews

Orchestral Music & Concertos by Eric Ewazen

5 star:		(3)
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I liked this album so much I tracked down Mr. Ewazen's web site to tell him so.

Being unfamiliar with Mr. Ewazen's body of work, I was really pleasantly surprised at the depth and craftsmanship in his music. The orchestrations make full use of the instruments of the orchestra and their characteristic sonorities. Even the "inner" parts of the compositions have musically interesting melodic lines. All of the solo parts are beautiful and wonderfully performed.

I must admit that I originally bought this album because I am a saxophonist and a great admirer of James Houlik's performances. Houlik performs brilliantly here on the tenor saxophone.

However, I discovered that there is much more to this recording than a group of world-class soloists performing concertos. The music is finely crafted and very accessible to all types of audiences. Highly recommended!

On an impulse I decided to purchase this disc. I am very pleased that I did. This is wonderful music, melodic but not sentimental, with rhythmic drive and gorgeous orchestration. Will you like this music? If you enjoy 20th Century Scandanavian music such as Holmboe and Larsson and/or American composers such as Piston or Diamond, then it is likely you will. The music is neo-classical in outlook,with lively rhythms, beautiful textures and sonorities, and masterful orchestration. All of the works are excellent: it is hard to choose a favorite! If forced to do so, the gorgeous Flute Concerto would probably win by the slenderest of margins, with the Chamber Symphony (very nearly a Piano Concerto with the prominent piano part) a close second. It is unfortunately all too easy to imagine why such deserving music is so obscure. However, if you love tuneful and accessible music that is neither hackneyed nor simplistic, then I urge you to make its acquaintance at the earliest possible opportunity. Sound and performances are up to Albany's usual high standards.

Excellent! I recently purchased the sheet music to Mr. Ewazen's Flute Concerto and have used this CD as a teaching tool for breathing and phrasing. The performer of this work did an excellent job and I have learned a lot from her.