Arnold Rosner: Orchestral Music, Volume Two
The musical language of the New York-based Arnold Rosner (1945–2013) clothes the modal harmony and rhythm of pre-Baroque polyphony in rich Romantic colours, producing a style that is instantly recognisable and immediately appealing. This second Toccata Classics album of his orchestral music contrasts the high-spirited Unraveling Dances – a rhapsody with more than a nod to Ravel’s Bolero – with the powerful symphonic suite Five Ko-ans for Orchestra and Rosner’s dramatic, dark, hieratic setting of Kafka’s The Parable of the Law for baritone and orchestra.
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Nick Palmer, conductor
Christopher Burchett, baritone (Track 7)
Listen To This Recording:
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Five Ko-ans for Orchestra, Op. 65 (1976)
- Five Ko-ans for Orchestra, Op. 65: No. 1 Music of Changes
- Five Ko-ans for Orchestra, Op. 65: No. 2 Ricercare
- Five Ko-ans for Orchestra, Op. 65: No. 3 Ostinato
- Five Ko-ans for Orchestra, Op. 65: No. 4 Music of Stillness
- Five Ko-ans for Orchestra, Op. 65: No. 5 Isorhythmic Motet
- Unraveling Dances, Op. 122 (2007)
- The Parable of the Law, Op. 97 (1993)
FIRST RECORDINGS
MusicWeb International :
‘Rosner wrote serious tonal music and the performances on this disc and its recording qualities are a superb compliment to Rosner’s achievement. There is nothing circus-like, trivial or superficial in his output.’
—Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International
Classical Net :
‘[Unraveling Dances] is a terrific showpiece, as long as Bolero itself, and – if I may add – dances with greater forward impulse. […]
I look on the [The Parable of the Law] as a bit of a compositional miracle – clearing every hurdle, compelling a listener to stay on the ride until the end, despite the solemnity of the subject matter and the lack of obvious opportunities for bon-bons. This work alone convinces me of Rosner’s natural power. […]
Beautifully scored, [the Ostinato] has both a Middle Ages and Middle Eastern flavor. What a Bruckner adagio does for others, this does for me. […]
All three scores demand a top-flight orchestra, and fortunately not only does the London Philharmonic qualify, it has become one of the world’s great “reading” orchestras. So here you have three tremendous scores well done in good sound. What are you waiting for?’
—Steve Schwartz, Classical Net
Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review :
‘And as I emerge from the intensive listening of said album I must say I am beguiled, impressed with Rosner’s true vision and orchestrational grasp.
Three compositions provide three appealing and dynamic musical worlds. […]
Listing to this volume a good number of times, I emerge with a clear sense of the Rosner musical personality, not so much a cross-section of a number of modern developments and the past, instead a conscious refashioning from what has been and a fertile inventive imagination. Nick Palmer and the London Philharmonic give us impressive and heartfelt readings of the works. Very recommended.’
—Grego Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review
WTJU :
‘Christopher Burchett delivers an exceptionally dramatic performance of the The Parable of the Law.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra under Nick Palmer shine. Rosner uses a unique orchestral palette, and this ensemble makes it sound magnificent.
While I personally think the Parable is weak, overall I liked the album. Five Ko-ans is considered one of Rosner’s best work, and it’s easy to hear why. And Unraveling Dances is just plain fun. In this case, two out of three is very good.’
—WTJU, Ralph Graves
Klassisk Musikk :
‘Den amerikanske komponisten Arnold Rosner (1945-2013) må jeg ærlig innrømme er et nytt navn for meg, så Toccata Classics’ ambassadørvirksomhet for denne musikken ønskes uforbeholdent velkommen, spesielt siden den – med disse fremførelsene – viser seg å ha øyeblikkelig appell, samt variasjon i uttrykk og stemning. […]
Den første platen med orkestermusikk (TOCC 0368) gir en fin introduksjon til Rosners register som komponist, selv om jeg finner nr. 2 (TOCC 0465) mer tiltrekkende: der spesielt Five Ko-ans er en enormt attraktiv suite. […] Unravelling Dances, Rosners siste orkesterverk, er en svært tiltalende fantasi basert på en «gal» eller arytmisk bolero (Ravels kjente stykke blir sitert og det er hentydninger til både barokk og arabisk musikk). Et annet eksempel på Rosners register er den deklamerte kantaten for baryton og orkester, The Parable of the Law (1993), der en tekst fra Kafkas Prosessen fremføres sterkt av Christopher Burchett.’
English translation:
‘The American composer Arnold Rosner (1945-2013) is, I must honestly admit, a new name to me, so Toccata Classics’ ambassadorship of this music is wholeheartedly welcomed, especially since – with these performances – it proves to have immediate appeal, as well as variety in expression and mood. […]
The first disc of orchestral music (TOCC 0368) provides a fine introduction to Rosner’s repertoire as a composer, although I find No. 2 (TOCC 0465) more appealing: in particular the Five Ko-ans is an enormously attractive suite. […] Unravelling Dances, Rosner’s last orchestral work, is a very appealing fantasy based on a “crazy” or arrhythmic bolero (Ravel’s famous piece is quoted and there are allusions to both Baroque and Arabic music). Another example of Rosner’s register is the declamation cantata for baritone and orchestra, The Parable of the Law (1993), in which a text from Kafka’s The Trial is powerfully performed by Christopher Burchett.’
—Guy Rickards, Klassisk Musikk