Vienna and the West
Nic Gerpe, Judith Farmer, Ben Hong, Joanne Pearce Martin, Tereza Stanislav, Gloria Cheng, Nadia Shpachenko, Edgar David Lopez, Andrew Shulman, Steve Dress, Robert Brophy, Amy Jo Rhine, Robert Thies, Charles Tyler, Maia Jasper White
This intriguing and ingenious album by Gernot Wolfgang bridges sophisticated Viennese elements with edgier and rawer textures found in more contemporary American works. Wolfgang is taking us on an autobiographical safari with this "groove-oriented" classical album that will be a pleasure for the listener to explore. The compositions are for eclectic chamber groups, beginning with a bassoon-piano opener and concluding with a piano quartet. These many forms reveal the multiplicity of Wolfgang. Described as a "master composer with important things to communicate to his listeners," Gernot Wolfgang was born in Austria in 1957. Currently he lives in Los Angeles where (among many other musical activities) he works as an orchestrator in the film and TV music industry. He has been a lecturer at the University of Music in Graz and offered master classes at numerous universities in the U.S. and Mexico. He has received more than 40 commissions from organizations such as the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Jazz Festival of the European Broadcasting Union, and the Debussy Trio. This is his fourth recording for Albany Records.
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Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Road Signs | Gernot Wolfgang | Judith Farmer (bassoon); Nic Gerpe (piano) |
| Passage to Vienna | Gernot Wolfgang | Tereza Stanislav (violin); Ben Hong (cello); Joanne Pearce Martin (piano) |
| Route 33 | Gernot Wolfgang | Gloria Cheng (piano) |
| Windows | Gernot Wolfgang | Edgar David Lopez (clarinet); Judith Farmer (bassoon); Nadia Shpachenko (piano) |
| Impressions | Gernot Wolfgang | Edgar David Lopez (clarinet); Judith Farmer (bassoon); Amy Jo Rhine (horn); Tereza Stanislav (violin); Robert Brophy (viola); Andrew Shulman (cello); Steve Dress (double bass) |
| From Vienna With Love | Gernot Wolfgang | Marta Jasper White (violin); Robert Brophy (viola); Charles Tyler (cello); Robert Thies (piano) |
Reviews
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"Listening to Road Signs, an intriguing etude for bassoon and piano by Gernot Wolfgang in the Albany CD Vienna and the West (TROY 1760) I am reminded of how much I enjoyed Wolfgang's work in the past, and of how unpredictable the young Austrian composer's music can be. Here's a lovely compilation of minimalist compositions written between 2002 and 2017. This, in a few words, is music that defies pigeonholing, as it embraces the rigorous conservatory training of its creator while at the same time giving more than a passing nod to the improvisatory feel of jazz.
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"As with the previous volume, this one features superb performances featuring some of Los Angeles' finest studio and concert musicians. The sonic quality of the release is really equally impressive with a warm quality and excellent imaging. The music is all quite accessible with a good sequencing of chamber groups. Thematically, the album does have this sense of episodic exploration which is given voice through some really interesting pieces. This is another highly recommended collection of chamber music."
*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.