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Nimbus

Contemporary Character Pieces for Piano

$16.99

Details

Composer
Various
Artist
Robert Blocker
Format
CD
Label
Nimbus
Released
Nov 01, 2024
Catalog #
NI6453
UPC
0710357645327

About

The romantic character pieces of Schumann and Brahms have been my musical companions since childhood. In earlier years, I was immersed in their emotional content. The craft, especially the economy of scale and refinement of compositional technique, captured my attention as a college student. Later, new discoveries were revealed at the intersections of my musical journey where emotion was guided by intellect. Throughout my career, I have championed new music created by fellow students and colleagues. Shortly after assuming the deanship of the Yale School of Music, it occurred to me that the expansive piano repertoire could be enriched further by contemporary character pieces. These would be in the tradition of the romantic era, each one being three to five minutes in length with an inherent emotional impulse. Yale School of Music and new music are synonymous, dating to it's founding in 1894 with Horatio Parker and throughout the history of YSM a composition faculty with an international presence - Paul Hindemith, Krzysztof Penderecki, Jacob Druckman, and Martin Bresnick among them. Approximately two thirds of the Pulitzer Prize recipients in composition have some relationship to the Yale School of Music. When asked to compose a contemporary character piece that I would perform and record, my faculty colleagues and friends were most gracious and responded affirmatively. I should add that all of them exhibited exceedingly generous patience while waiting to hear premieres due to my unanticipated schedule intrusions. My gratitude and admiration for each of them is boundless not only for their personal encouragement but also for this significant contribution to the piano repertoire and our musical life. © Robert Blocker

Tracklist 10 tracks

  1. 1 Decade 09:14
    Track
    1
    Title
    Decade
    Duration
    09:14
    Composer
    Ezra Laderman
    Performer
    Robert Blocker
  2. 2 Winter Piano 04:39
    Track
    2
    Title
    Winter Piano
    Duration
    04:39
    Composer
    David Lang
    Performer
    Robert Blocker
  3. 3 Palindrome's Dance 04:43
    Track
    3
    Title
    Palindrome's Dance
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Joseph Schwantner
    Performer
    Robert Blocker
  4. 4 No. 1. Reflection 02:01
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 1. Reflection
    Duration
    02:01
    Composer
    Warren Lee
    Performer
    Robert Blocker
  5. 5 No. 2. Levity 00:57
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 2. Levity
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Warren Lee
    Performer
    Robert Blocker
  6. 6 No. 3. Blossom 01:53
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 3. Blossom
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Warren Lee
    Performer
    Robert Blocker
  7. 7 Extrana Devocion (Strange Devotion) 06:15
    Track
    7
    Title
    Extrana Devocion (Strange Devotion)
    Duration
    06:15
    Composer
    Martin Bresnick
    Performer
    Robert Blocker
  8. 8 The Pooka's Revenge: II. The Pooka Returns 03:19
    Track
    8
    Title
    The Pooka's Revenge: II. The Pooka Returns
    Duration
    03:19
    Composer
    Paul Reale
    Performer
    Robert Blocker
  9. 9 Toward the Setting Sun 05:47
    Track
    9
    Title
    Toward the Setting Sun
    Duration
    05:47
    Composer
    Aaron Jay Kernis
    Performer
    Robert Blocker
  10. 10 Wake Up, Called the Voice 06:02
    Track
    10
    Title
    Wake Up, Called the Voice
    Duration
    06:02
    Composer
    Christopher Theofanidis
    Performer
    Robert Blocker