American Classics - Ned Rorem - Naxos: 8559128 - CD or download

In Ned Rorem's End of Summer (1985) for clarinet, violin and piano, dramatic juxtapositions seem to be the work's organising principle.
Without postmodern trickery, Rorem shows us that seemingly... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Catalogue No: 8559128
Label: Naxos
Series: American Classics
Length: 59 minutes

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Rorem: End of Summer: Remembrance of Things Past

Work length19:55

$5.00

$6.00

Fibonacci Sequence
Recorded: 26th-28th Oct, 2001
Recording Venue: Potton Hall, Suffolk, England

Capriccio

Track length7:01

$2.00

$2.40

Fantasy

Track length7:40

$2.00

$2.40

Mazurka

Track length5:14

$1.00

$1.20

Rorem: Book of Hours

Work length18:42

$8.00

$9.60

Fibonacci Sequence
Recorded: 26th-28th Oct, 2001
Recording Venue: Potton Hall, Suffolk, England

Matins (Nocturne)

Track length1:52

$1.00

$1.20

Lauds (Sunrise)

Track length2:46

$1.00

$1.20

Prime (6am)

Track length1:20

$1.00

$1.20

Terce (Mid-morning)

Track length4:03

$1.00

$1.20

Sext (Noon)

Track length2:54

$1.00

$1.20

None (Mid-afternooon)

Track length3:06

$1.00

$1.20

Vespers (Evensong)

Track length0:40

$1.00

$1.20

Compline (Nightfall)

Track length2:01

$1.00

$1.20

Rorem: Bright Music

Work length21:13

$6.00

$7.20

Fibonacci Sequence
Recorded: 26th-28th Oct, 2001
Recording Venue: Potton Hall, Suffolk, England

Fandango

Track length3:49

$1.00

$1.20

Pierrot

Track length2:29

$1.00

$1.20

Dance-Song-Dance

Track length5:46

$1.00

$1.20

Another Dream

Track length8:04

$2.00

$2.40

Chopin

Track length1:05

$1.00

$1.20

Reviews
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Reviews

2010

In Ned Rorem's End of Summer (1985) for clarinet, violin and piano, dramatic juxtapositions seem to be the work's organising principle.
Without postmodern trickery, Rorem shows us that seemingly disparate elements can coexist quite happily. One hears a similar kind of musical détente going on in parts of Bright Music (1987) for flute, two violins, cello and piano – particularly in the opening Fandango, inspired by the image of a rat inside a rubbish bin. This is a substantial, delightful suite, centered on a brilliant scherzo movement ('Dance-Song-Dance') that enfolds one of Rorem's loveliest tunes. The slow movement (entitled 'Another Dance') is an expansive, aching song without words, and the whirlwind finale a clever and ultimately unsettling take on the last movement of Chopin's Funeral March Sonata.
Book of Hours (1975), for flute and harp, is structured on the timetable of monastic prayer, beginning with Matins and continuing through Lauds all the way to Vespers and Compline.
There are few sweet melodies here, though Rorem's language is always expressive. 'Sext (Noon)' is especially touching, with the flute's shakuhachi-like glissandi sighing over the harp's exquisitely fragile song.
The performances by the Fibonacci Sequence are consistently polished and persuasive.
Clear recording, too, though the instruments are placed very close to the microphones.
Very strongly recommended.

American Classics - Ned Rorem

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