Christopher Stark: Seasonal Music
BRIDGE 9526

JWR Best of 2019

Seasonal Music is the first CD of compositions by the remarkable thirty-eight year old American composer, Christopher Stark. Annotator Sean Shepherd writes of the "tremendous spaciousness, and a melancholy resonating throughout" the three recent works that make up this program. Speaking of the largest of these pieces, the virtuosic string quartet "Seasonal Music", Shepherd calls it "at times pictorial and descriptive--alternatively a vast exploration in sound and the possibilities of the quartet for its own sake." Stark is served brilliantly on this recording by three leading ensembles- the Momenta Quartet, the Los Angeles Piano Quartet and the Calyx Piano Trio with Scott Andrews, clarinet.

Reviews:

"Christopher Stark demonstrates a mastery of string quartet writing, compositional inventiveness, while acknowledging that music could not be where it is now without having such a glorious past.” - JWR

“Those seeking modern sounds with ties to early 20th century old masters are urged to get here.” - ICON

“This is haunting, memorable stuff. Anyone presenting chamber music locally should take a serious look at this music.” - Performing Arts Monterey Bay

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Seasonal Music (2016-18) for string quartet

Momenta Quartet

Piano Quartet (2014) for violin, viola, cello, and piano

Los Angeles Piano Quartet

This is Not a Story (2017) for clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and electronics

Scott Andrews, clarinet

Calyx Piano Trio

BRIDGE 9526