By MG112085
16-Aug-2012

Highly recommended  

I would recommend this recording as an introduction to Eric Whitacre; it has a greater variety of compositions than any of his other discs which are almost entirely choral. This CD will treat the listener to other sides of this multi-talented composer. The opening suite for wind ensemble reveals Whitacre's wit and inventiveness; and the central jewel of this recording is the gorgeous chamber cycle sung with richness and feeling by Whitacre's wife, the incomparable soprano Hila Plitmann.

Whitacre is best known for his award-winning choral music, compositions marked by dense harmonies and complex meters. As a poet, I admire his choices of texts. They are memorable, unusual, well-crafted poems well-suited for setting to music.

Whitacre's work is popular among university ensembles and for good reason. They are great teaching pieces: singers must learn their parts very well; there's no relying on traditional harmonies or leaning on other singers. These are not easy pieces, and they require great skill and concentration. Performing them must give everyone a great sense of accomplishment and achievement – and a deep sense of joy.

This CD ends with three of his choral works that have become "hit singles", and they should whet anyone's appetite for more.

We know from the closing track, Cloudburst, with all its sound effects, that Whitacre can be imaginative and playful, but the featured work here, Gawdsilla Eats Las Vegas, is a no-holds-barred hilarious romp. The text reads like a screenplay, full of visuals and "camera shots". The piece is the soundtrack for a zany film that exists only as text and sound. The listener has the fun of visualizing the film as he/she listens. The music is something of a pastiche of bits of pop music, film scores, sound effects, shouts and screams, snippets of Holst, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin – you name it. This is a whole lot of fun to listen to, and doubtless even more fun to perform.

Eric Whitacre has, by age 42, made a huge contribution to the music world. But he has also become something of a spiritual guide, if you will, a peace warrior for consciousness on the planet. Search for his Virtual Choir, and you will see what I mean.
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