Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • SPRING 2016 • PAN PIPES 27 ALBUM REVIEWS FLOURISHES, TALES, AND SYMPHONIES Chicago Gargoyle Brass and Organ Ensemble (MS 1598) The Chicago Gargoyle Brass began as a chamber group consisting of faculty and students at the University of Chicago in 1992. Now in its third decade, they have established themselves as a specialized ensemble for brass and organ with a residency at a major church with a professional organist. Consisting of brass, percussion, piano, organ, and a coach/conduc- tor, the ensemble has given concerts through- out the Chicago area, in Minnesota, and for the American Guild of Organists. They commission and perform new compositions and arrange- ments for their ensemble and have several re- cordings to their credit. The name "Gargoyle » included in the name of the group, comes from the architecture at the University of Chicago which has a number of "charming" Gargoyles on its campus. The CD was recorded at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Wheaton, IL,and at First United Church in Oak Park, IL. The balance between the players is excellent. This is due to some excellent writing for the ensemble and to the highly skilled performers which make up the ensemble. There is however a clear difference in sound between the two churches where the disc was recorded, with the church at Saint Michael the Archangel having a more ambient sound. However this does not detract from the overall excellent quality of the CD. The works included are interesting in their diversity and will be widely appealing. Several will be familiar to the listener, such as the ar- rangement of Liblamo ne'lieti calici from Verdi's La Traviata and the Symphony No. 3 by Saint- Saens, both skillfully arranged for the group. The Saint- Saens Symphony No. 3 is an especially well-crafted arrangement and the performance is impressive. Other works include original com- positions and arrangements for the group. The CD is stylishly packaged with extensive liner notes and attractive photos. ERWIN SCHULHOFF Eka Gogichashvili and Kae Hosoda-Ayer (MS 1560) Erwin Schulhoff (1894-1942) was a Czech composer of Jewish heritage whose output numbers nearly 200 compositions, including works for piano, chamber music, symphonies, concertos, op- eras, and ballets. He studied with Max Reger at the Conserva- tory in Leipzig, and it was here that Reger in- troduced him to the works of the German masters Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. He subsequently studied at the Conservatory in Cologne and this is when he wrote the Suite for Violin and Piano and the Sonata No. 1, also for violin and piano. There were many musical influences in his life, and many of these can be heard in the violin works presented on this CD. Those include the influence of many of the important compos- ers of his day, such as Schoenberg, Bartok, and Debussy, as well as American jazz. In the turmoil of World War II, much of Schulhoff 's work was lost as his life and career were cut short by the Nazi invasion of his homeland. He was taken to a detention center in Prague, and he later died of tuberculosis in 1942. In recent years, much of his output has been recovered, and he has received the respect which he deserves. This CD represents a worthy tribute to the outstanding merit of the composer through these fine per- formances of his works for solo violin and violin and piano. Violinist Eka Gogichashvili is currently As- sociate Professor of Violin at Baylor University. She studied at the Tbilisi State Conservatory, Georgia (formerly in the Soviet Union), and holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts from Louisiana State University. She has performed widely as a soloist, chamber musician, and with several or- chestras. Pianist Kae Hasada–Ayer is also on the faculty at Baylor University as Assistant Profes- sor of Piano and Director of Collaborative Piano Studies. She has concertized extensively as a soloist and as a collaborative pianist. She holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Texas. The earliest work on the disc is the Suite written in 1911. In this work one can hear some of the many influences which inspired Schul- hoff. It is full of dance-like motives and late Romantic harmonies. The fourth movement, Walzer, reflects Schuloff 's interest in American jazz. The Sonata No. 1 was written in 1913. It is full of long lyrical lines and in places reminis- cent of Debussy-like harmonies of a composer who Shuloff greatly admired. Both the Sonata for Solo Violin and Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano were written in 1927. In four movements, the Sonata for Solo Violin fully exploits the pos- sibilities for the solo violin. Sonata No. 2 may remind listeners of Bartok, another composer greatly admired by Schulhoff. The performances are well-crafted, and the ensemble is excel- lent. Schulhoff 's violin works display the great diversity and breadth of his musical output. The virtuoso performers prove that they are up to the technical and expressive challenges presented in these works. Attractive liner notes and photos are included on the composer and the performers. More information on the works presented here would have been of interest to many. BRAZILIAN DREAMS Music of Michael Eckert (MS 1549) Michael Eckert is Professor of Music Theory and Composition at the University of Iowa. Composing in a musical style from Brazil, a country where he had never been, may seem unusual, however he explains the circumstances which drew him to compose in these Brazilian dance forms. The tracks on the CD are arranged from his earliest, Three Tangos for Piano Four Hands (2002-06) to the most re- cent work, Three Pieces for Two Pianos (2011-12). Three Tangos represents the starting point of his interest in the Brazilian Tango and Choro. The work began as a piece for his son and later was revised to the present version. From this work the style and form captured his imagination which then led to this CD. The CD begins and concludes with music for piano, and the other four works included on the CD are composed for clarinet and piano. Both piano pieces are beautifully performed by Unison Piano Duo, husband/wife duo of Du Huang and Xiao Hu. Both maintain an international performance career while also serving as faculty at Luther College. The four works for clarinet are performed by clarinetist Amanda McCandless and pianist Polina Khatsko. Both are on the music faculty at the University of Northern Iowa. They artisti- cally capture the charm of the music with ease and understanding. The compositions on this recording are charming and well-crafted. It is easy to imagine that anyone would enjoying listening to these engaging, well- performed works. Kim McCormick is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of South Florida and faculty advisor for Delta Chi Chapter. She holds a DMA from the University of North Texas and is a Yamaha Artist.

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