The Music of Elliott Carter, Volume Four
Volume Four of Bridge's outstanding Elliott Carter series features one of his masterpieces,Eight Pieces for Four Timpani, along with fascinating recent shorter works. Virtuoso guitarist David Starobin makes the most of "Shard," which packs more harmonic and rhythmic variety into its kaleidoscopic two and a half minutes than many much longer works. "Shard" reappears within the longerLuimen, a delicately colored piece that exploits its unusual instrumentation--trumpet and trombone joining the plucked instruments guitar, mandolin, harp, and vibraphone.Tempo e Tempiis a cycle of eight songs to poems by Italian poets for soprano and a quartet of winds and strings, fascinating in its rhythmic complexity and coloristic subtleties. Soprano Susan Narucki is the flawless high-flying soprano, coaxing lovely melodies from Carter's uncompromising writing. The timpani piece is bound to be a favorite of anyone with a taste for percussion instruments or with the curiosity to discover how much variety and nuance can be derived from the instrument. It's brilliantly performed here by Daniel Druckman. Bridge's first-class sonics and informative booklet notes add to the attraction of a must-have CD for Carterites and anyone interested in contemporary music.--Dan Davis