Robert Raines: The Return of Odysseus; Echoes of Sarah for 9 Flutes; Menage for Flute, Bass Clarinet & Piano

Florida State University Flute Ensemble (Artist), Robert Raines (Composer), Vit Micka (Conductor), Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Vit Micka
• Composer: Robert Raines
• Audio CD (August 12, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: MSR Classics
• ASIN: B001E6RYQW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #809,867 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Raines: Echoes of Sarah

2. Raines: Menage - Movement I

3. Raines: Menage - Movement II

4. Raines: Menage - Movement III

5. Raines: Return of Odysseus - Athena Visits Ithaca

6. Raines: Return of Odysseus - Dance of the Suitors

7. Raines: Return of Odysseus - The Cyclops

8. Raines: Return of Odysseus - The Sirens

9. Raines: Return of Odysseus - The Kingdom of the Dead

10. Raines: Return of Odysseus - The Return of Odysseus

11. Raines: Return of Odysseus - The Rooted Bed

Editorial Reviews

Review

The remarkable thing about Raines' music is not so much that it is technically intricate, which we might have expected, but that it also has the power to move the listener emotionallydramatic and evocative, but highly economic writing. Keep this premiere offering in your CD collection and treasure it. I have the feeling we will be hearing much from Robert Raines in the future. --Fanfare, March/April 2009

Review

Echoes for Sarah is a poignant and moving fantasy for nine flutes [that] takes us through a range of emotions and uses the colours of the different members of the flute family to good effect. With a duration of nearly 12 minutes, there is the potential for the flute ensemble sound to become stale, but this does not happen here; the work constantly evolves and eventually breaks down into haunting vocal sounds before the end of the piece. The playing here is good, especially for a live performance of University students... Ménage immediately hints at Raines diverse background as a composer and musician. The playing here, by Deanna Bertsche (flute), Erin Douglas (bass clarinet) and Jose Belvia (piano) is excellent... The Return of Odysseus has drama running all the way through it. The orchestration is rich and imaginative, and the rhythmic writing has resonances of Stravinsky without ever becoming predictable or generic...the music is creative, expressive and extremely enjoyable. Raines plentiful influences create a rich tapestry of sound which never stays still and has the sense of a modern day spectacle...This is a captivating and well-executed performance by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra which serves as the perfect introduction to Raines work... Raines is clearly a composer with a considerable talent and imagination. His music would sit well within a programme of contemporary works or as film music or anywhere in between, such is the breadth of his appeal. There is a life-force behind his music which involves the listener and keeps the material fresh; it is rare that I can listen to a 30 minute piece of music without my mind drifting at some point, but Raines held my attention and made me want to listen again. That, surely, is a good sign. --MusicWeb International, April 2009

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heroic and tender, October 19, 2008

By 

M. Kozlowski (CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Robert Raines: The Return of Odysseus; Echoes of Sarah for 9 Flutes; Menage for Flute, Bass Clarinet & Piano (Audio CD)

This is a disc well-worth owning. The elegiac Echoes of Sarah and the dynamic Menage for Flute provide comforting safe passage before we're propelled into the storm-tossed ballet score that Raines has fashioned from the myth of Odysseus. Rich, deep and varied, the music beautifully embodies the heroic narrative--it is unabashedly emotional and intelligently evokes the best of early 20th-Century classics. There are echoes of Stravinsky and Ravel along with the sinuous rhythms of great film scores by Korngold, Steiner and Herrmann, but the passion is completely genuine and the sound uniquely Raines'.

It would be exciting to see the ballet that this is meant to inspire, but in the meantime one can play the epic movie in ones mind that this thrilling score conjures up, and enjoy the virtues of well-crafted, accessible orchestral music rousingly performed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful music, September 18, 2008

By 

Maria Bavosa Caifa - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Robert Raines: The Return of Odysseus; Echoes of Sarah for 9 Flutes; Menage for Flute, Bass Clarinet & Piano (Audio CD)

Superb album. . .beautiful music! This one surely sets itself apart. I recommend giving Robert Raines release a shot. I was very please with it and if you enjoy something a little different by a talented artist, this ones for you.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Temptation!, October 19, 2008

By 

w. henderson "Cedar Springs Arts Reviews" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Robert Raines: The Return of Odysseus; Echoes of Sarah for 9 Flutes; Menage for Flute, Bass Clarinet & Piano (Audio CD)

Like Odysseus on his epic journey home from the Trojan Wars, you too will be tempted by this beautiful and haunting music. Raines has created a score which will take you from storm tossed seas, to the depths of the Kingdom of the Dead, and lift your spirits with the enchantments of the Sirens. And just as Homer wrote, "Once he hears to his heart's content, sails on, a wiser man," you too will sail on with a contented heart and ear.
Music worthy of this epic poem.