Review

Orchestral Excursions

"Marga Richter's epic triple concerto for violin, cello and piano is brilliantly performed...[She] paints an emotional landscape upon which the three soloists journey into an ethereal realm....Richter's rich neo-Romantic language intentionally masks the original timbre of Monteverdi's archaic theme in a shroud of extended chromaticism. With each variation the harmonic tension and brilliance increase until the concerto reaches a fevered pitch of unbridled fury. Richter uses dissonance as a spice, which is sometimes hot and at other times subtle...A 13-minute cadenza section follows in which the soloists are treated as chamber musicians, and each is provided an intensely introspective cadenza. These are preceded by a Trio Cadenza in which the pianist plays the Bach Prelude in its original form, except for beginning in the minor mode. The violinist plays a poignant melody over it, which, intentionally or not, is reminiscent of the Dies Irae from the Requiem Mass, and the cellist provides a slow bass line consisting of the Orfeo chorale. The fusion of these ideas is stunning. With this work, she has proven that there are still composers who have the skill and the ability to capture the hearts and minds of the audience.

"The Howard Harris saxophone concerto is a cross-over piece between jazz and contemporary idioms. His concept is progressive and a littlle rebellious. Baroque themes are superimposed on the texture of modern jazz progressions creating the effect of simultaneity that resembles works by Charles Ives. The saxophone soloists floats above the mix as a casual commentator. [This piece] makes an excellent companion to Richter's concerto." Dr. Carolyn Broe, Journal of the IAWM [International Alliance for Women in Music] Vol. II, No. 2, 2005.