This CD by the University of Michigan Symphony Band combines two classics of the band repertory with creations by several of the stars of the university's composition faculty; it's of interest far beyond the Big Ten and shows something of the continuing vitality of the symphonic band tradition. The disc opens with a short, appropriately overture-like work by Bright Sheng, for "orchestra without strings." Called La'i, it is loosely inspired by the mood of a type of Tibetan love song. Over nearly five minutes it moves from ...
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This CD by the University of Michigan Symphony Band combines two classics of the band repertory with creations by several of the stars of the university's composition faculty; it's of interest far beyond the Big Ten and shows something of the continuing vitality of the symphonic band tradition. The disc opens with a short, appropriately overture-like work by Bright Sheng, for "orchestra without strings." Called La'i, it is loosely inspired by the mood of a type of Tibetan love song. Over nearly five minutes it moves from passages of dissonant, highly expressive evocation of the romantic feelings embodied in the Tibetan form to more transparent textures in which the basic pitch materials of the work are clarified; the effect is that of a feeling springing into clear definition. Susan Botti's Cosmosis for wind ensemble, soprano, and women's voices sets diverse poetry by May Swenson; the texts do not fully hang together, but Botti's dual treatment of the voices -- at times they converse in a disorganized...
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