Composer Mikel Kuehn, a 2014 Guggenheim Fellow, carries the mantle of American high modernism forward with this debut full length release of his compositions. Kuehn's...

Composer Mikel Kuehn, a 2014 Guggenheim Fellow, carries the mantle of American high modernism forward with this debut full length release of his compositions. Kuehn's work draws influence from Babbitt, Carter, and Wolpe among others, as well as figures from other disciplines including Italo Calvino and Paul Klee. Heard here in performances by Chicago based Ensemble Dal Niente, Flexible Music, percussionist Gregory Beyer, guitarist Daniel Lippel, cellist Craig Hultgren, and Bowling Green's Saxophone Ensemble, and with in depth liner notes by flutist/composer/new music eminence Harvey Sollberger, Kuehn's music represents the apex of compositional craft, prioritizing the kind of depth that rewards repeated listening.. Noted for its presentation of “bracing sonic adventures” Ensemble Dal Niente aims to drive musical discourse with adventurous projects that exhibit an ambitious range of aesthetic values tied to contemporary life and culture. Recent projects include a collaboration with Deerhoof and Marcos Balter, an East Coast tour of German music, and recordings of works by George Lewis. New Music Quartet Flexible Music formed in 2003 and has since been devoted to expanding the repertoire for their uncommon instrumentation. The group can be heard on several New Focus releases, as well as on recordings on Albany and Centaur.