Customer Reviews

School of Velocity

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One of the greatest compliments one can pay a composer is to say that he has found his own voice; yet it's difficult to describe this voice without resorting to comparisons to other music that the listener may be familiar with. Levering isn't a minimalist, but minimalism is a significant element of his music. Repetitive patterns come and go but never overstay their welcome. His music could also be described as impressionistic in that he uses harmony and instrumental texture to create a spectrum of delicious colors. In some movements, bursts of staccato notes create an almost pointillistic effect. The music could be desribed as lyrical but this is achieved not through long melodic lines but rather the flow of overlapping fragments. With modern "classical" music often expected to be either harsh and anguished or coldly intellectual, it's nice to find a composer who has a sense of humor and is in pursuit of gorgeous sounds.

Here's a quote from a recently published review: "This is the best debut album by an American composer I've heard this year." - Robert Carl, Fanfare (July/August, 1999)