In the notes for this Naxos CD, composer Salvador Brotons, who is also the conductor of this performance, explains that his Symphony No. 5 ‘Mundus Noster’ has a form “nearer to that of a symphonic poem than to pure music.” I read these notes as I began my second...

The unifying features of the works on this DUX CD are that they are all by Polish composers, were either written or transcribed for string orchestra, and come from the later half of the twentieth century. The are all also similarly challenging to the ear; none stick out as being particularly...

This Dacapo CD presents the world premiere recording of symphonies nos. 1 and 2 by Danish-German composer Søren Nils Eichberg performed by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Christoph Poppen. A recipient of first prize at the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in...

The third in a series from the Polish DUX label chronicling the sacred music of Paweł Łukaszewski, this latest volume presents the composer’s carols and motets for a cappella chorus. There’s an assortment of original works and arrangements of traditional carols, all performed by...

Without previous knowledge of the music of Valentin Silvestrov (b. 1937), listeners who generally steer clear of contemporary music might miss out by not giving this Grand Piano CD a chance. The works span a creative period of over 55 years from the composer’s Naive Musik (1954-55, rev....

This Divine Art CD contains the entirety of young British composer David Jennings’ piano music, all written between 1985 and 2010. Born in Sheffield, Yorkshire in 1972, Jennings studied composition at Durham University and again at Manchester University at the postgraduate level. The...

Inspired by paintings and photographs of the composer’s homeland, New Zealander Christopher Blake wrote the four works for string orchestra on this Atoll CD between 2000 and 2008. Performed by the Strings of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kenneth Young, these works are...

One can gather quite a bit about the music of British composer John Pickard (born 1963) from the opening track of this BIS CD, the first movement of his Piano Concerto, completed in 2000. It’s apparent that rhythm plays a very important thematic role in the music; it’s rhythm...

Six Fish from the Australian guitar quartet Guitar Trek is a completely original, fresh and compelling album. It’s on the Tall Poppies record label (also Aussie), coming to us from out of left field (which is our decidedly preferred field here at Expedition Audio). Celebrating its 25th...

The Alba record label has been committed to the music of Finnish composer Seppo Pohjola for nearly a decade. This new recording of Pohjola’s Symphony No. 1 (2002) and Symphony No. 2 (2006) follows recordings by Alba of the composer’s earlier chamber music and two short operas....

This Dacapo CD contains three works by Danish composer Erik Norby (1936-2007). The Rainbow Snake (1975) is a symphonic poem inspired by an Amerindian legend that describes the origin of the rainbow. Rilke-Lieder (1985) for mezzo-soprano and orchestra is a setting of three songs based upon...

The very significant poetic side of American composer Jennifer Higdon’s music is confirmed on this new album from Bridge Records. The performances are by the Lark Quartet in An Exaltation of Larks (2005), Scenes from the Poet’s Dreams (1999) where the quartet is joined by pianist...