By Gimbel
American Record Guide
01-Dec-2006
Songs, Drones, and Refrains of Death (1968), for baritone, electric instruments, and percussion, is another set of Lorca poems produced by Crumb in the 60s, this time for male voice, along with an amplified quintet of guitar (it's Lorca, after all), contrabass, two percussionists, and piano (doubling on harpsichord). The atmosphere is, as usual, dark, nightmarish, and more than a little deranged. Baritone Isherwood performs with great effectiveness and virtuosity. The competition is Sanford Sylvan with Speculum Musicae in Bridge's Complete Crumb series. Check for couplings, but this is, of course, less expensive. It's also extremely well recorded and performed.
The coupling is Quest (1994), an extended nocturne for guitar, soprano sax, harp, and percussion (also available on Bridge, with its dedicatee, David Starobin, as guitar soloist). For me, this is one of the composer's most touching efforts, with its endlessly circling fifths and touches of 'Amazing Grace' creating a moving, valedictory atmosphere. Crumb is at his best, or maybe most accessible, when dealing with American folk music- his Unto the Hills is another beautiful example. If you have doubts about this composer's work, you might try these pieces. This program includes both of Crumb's expressive extremes, so it might serve as a good introduction to his music. Notes by the composer.
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