Augusta Read Thomas: Selected Works for Orchestra

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Augusta Read Thomas: Selected Works for Orchestra

Christine Brandes (soprano), Baird Dodge (violin)

DePaul University Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra MusicNOW Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, Southern Methodist University Wind Ensemble, Cliff Colnot, Pierre Boulez, Oliver Knussen, Jack Delaney

The performances are as persuasive as expected given the involvement of such as Pierre Boulez and Oliver Knussen...One can only await Vol. 2 of this series with impatience. — Gramophone Magazine, April 2014 More…

Release Date: 13th Jan 2014
Catalogue No: NI6258
Label: Nimbus
Series: Alliance, Recordings of Works by Augusta Read Thomas
Length: 79 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

April 2014

Editor's Choice
Gramophone Awards

2014

Shortlisted - Contemporary

This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched.

Thomas, Augusta: Aureole

Work length7:47

$1.50

$2.10

DePaul University Symphony
Cliff Colnot

Thomas, Augusta: Words of the SeaI: I. …words of the sea...

Work length3:38

$1.00

$1.40

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Pierre Boulez

Thomas, Augusta: Words of the Sea

Work length13:14

$3.00

$4.20

Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Music NOW Ensemble
Pierre Boulez

II. …the ever-hooded, tragic-gestured sea…

Track length4:13

$1.00

$1.40

III. …beyond the genius of the sea…

Track length2:52

$1.00

$1.40

IV. …mountainous atmospheres of sky and sea - homage to Debussy

Track length6:09

$1.00

$1.40

Thomas, Augusta: In My Sky at Twilight

Work length18:36

$3.00

$4.20

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Music NOW Ensemble
Pierre Boulez

I. Deeper than all roses

Track length10:07

$1.50

$2.10

II. Lament

Track length8:29

$1.50

$2.10

Thomas, Augusta: Carillon Sky

Work length8:20

$1.50

$2.10

Chamber Orchestra
Oliver Knussen

Thomas, Augusta: Terpsichore’s Dream

Work length15:33

Album only

Chamber Orchestra
Cliff Colnot

Thomas, Augusta: Silver Chants the Litanies

Work length12:40

$2.00

$2.80

Southern Methodist University Wind Ensemble
Jack Delaney

About
Reviews
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About

Among today's composers, Thomas has remained consistent in blazing her own path. In this she has undoubtedly been aided by her cosmopolitan training, having studied with, among others, Alan Stout (Northwestern University, 1983-87), Oliver Knussen (Tanglewood, 1986, 1987, 1989) and Jacob Druckman (Yale University, 1988), as well as one final year in London at the Royal Academy of Music (1989).

Her music has travelled worldwide over the years through the advocacy of figures such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Pierre Boulez, Daniel Baremboim, Christoph Eschenbach, Oliver Knussen, Esa Pekka Salonen, William Boughton and Sir Andrew Davis among many others. But names, appointments and honours in themselves cannot give an indication of what Thomas' music sounds like. And the music itself defies any easy verbalisation. Divining influences can give some indication as long as it is borne in mind that knowledge of said influences is no substitute for listening to the actual music. Thomas' long-standing study of Jazz has imparted a sense of rhythm notable for its combination of drive and elasticity. Figures as diverse as Byrd, Bach, Chopin, Mahler, Debussy, Berg, Stravinsky, Berio, Knussen, George Benjamin, Ellington,

Coltrane and Dutilleux certainly furnish clues as to how Thomas' music has attained its formal fluidity, a lyricism high-flown and diaphanous by turns, a harmonic language that can move between tart, flavoursome dissonance and warm consonance with an enviable naturalness, and an orchestrational instinct of pyrotechnic virtuosity.

Reviews

April 2014

The performances are as persuasive as expected given the involvement of such as Pierre Boulez and Oliver Knussen...One can only await Vol. 2 of this series with impatience.

6th February 2014

Thomas's confident handling of a chamber orchestra is perhaps the most impressive aspect of the pieces in this collection...Terpsichore's Dream for chamber orchestra from 2007 is a parade of glittering musical images that steadily gains energy; it would make a great work-out for any ensemble.

Augusta Read Thomas: Selected Works for Orchestra

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