Other Minds wrapup

Some highlights for me at the recent Other Minds festival are:

Louis Andriessen: An excellent performance of his chamber piece Zilver; several smaller pieces reflected a diversity I didn't know about; and his impressive piano improv work with vocalist Cristina Zavalloni.


Louis Andriessen and Tom Steenland

The strongly spatial experience of hearing David A. Jaffe's piece (a tribute to Henry Brant), which used instruments spread throughout the hall, all triggered via Trimpin electro-mechanical expertise.


Henry Brant chimes, deployed by Trimpin

Monica Germino commanded the stage with her excellent violin playing, and at times, singing too.

Agata Zubel displayed amazing extended vocalizations and convincing compositional skills in her Cascando and Parlando works.

Agata Zubel

And pianist Sarah Cahill again reminded us what a special talent she is in her fine performance of Kyle Gann's Time Does Not Exist.

We also heard impressive, virtuosic performances from Bali double-necked guitarist Balawan, jazz pianist Jason Moran, avant guitarist Fred Frith, and the Dutch hyper-drummer Han Bennink.

We are lucky to live in an age of so many prodigiously talented performers.

Dockstader: Water Music

Tod Dockstader's Water Music: Part Three is heard in this new video:



Read more about Dockstader's Quatermass CD.

"Genuine warmth" in Persichetti CD

Another favorable review for our new Persichetti CD has appeared at Lucid Culture, where they write, "It’s nice to finally see a digital release for this collection," adding "Starkland has brought it back with impressive attention to dynamics."

Regarding the Tenth Piano Sonata, they note, "Burmeister varies her attack deftly, through its serpentine dynamic shifts: nimble cadenzas, graceful legato lines, percussive clusters and the occasional rapidfire cascade."

And for the challenging Eleventh Piano Sonata, they write, "It’s not easy imbuing music this rigorous and acidic with genuine warmth, yet that’s what Burmeister achieved here, no small accomplishment."



Read more about Starkland's Persichetti CD.