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Review of CD release "American Dream"

by Rita Crews

from The Studio, Quarterly Magazine of the Music Teachers' Association of New South Wales, Summer 2001

The high standard we have come to expect from CDs produced by Robert Allworth is again evident in
his latest release entitled American Dream : Music ofAmerican and Australian Composers .
Containing 14 works, eight written in the last two years, a variety of musical genre and ensemble
combinations feature in a collection of music that delights the ear.

The title track, American Dream by Ann Carr-Boyd, written whilst the composer was in the United
States and inspired by a rally to commemorate Martin Luther King Day, is in the manner of a tone
poem for flute and harpsichord. The poignant yet impassioned flute writing - representing the various
preachers - serves as a perfect foil to the underlying voice of the harpsichord, representing the
congregation. Listen intently for the speaker!

The second work on the disc, this time for flute and piano, is Derek Strahan's cantata, Et in Arcadia
Er!o from his 1990 chamber work Atlantis . Previouslv released on the JADE labeL nevertheless. it is
~ -
always refreshing to hear the luscious tones of this composer's writing.

Robert Allworth's own organ works, miniature tone poems representing the life of Oscar Wilde
entitled A Dream ofDecadence and Decay ofLying were both written in 2000 and are dedicated to
the American organist, Carson P. Cooman who premiered the works at Harvard University. Having
heard Allworth's earlier works and been captivated with the composer's original writing style, Cooman
subsequently requested a substantial organ work, hence the tracks appearing here. Cooman as
composer also features on the disc with Romanza (2000) for organ, dedicated to the memory of
Dulcie Holland. The ethereal layers of sound, the almost hypnotic mood of the underlying pedal notes
gives a quiet dignity, to this reflective work.

Ever the practical composer, Eric Gross has written many works especially for the Sydney Mandolins
- one of the few composers writing for such an ensemble- and a trio of works feature on this disc.
Concertino for Button Accordion (Bayan) and Plectrum Ensemble (2000) replaces what was the
original organ part of this work originally entitled And the Sun danced on Easter Morn ,with plectrum
ensemble; Essay for Mandolin and Wind Quintet (1996) and Michael Meanders Again (1999)
complete the trio. The Quinterlude Wind Quintet which perform these works feature later on the disc
with the 1997 work by Robert Allworth, Study in Grey .

Solo recorder works by Betty Beath. Night Song No. 1 for bass recorder and Night Song No.2 for
alto recorder written in 2000 are both performed by Barnaby Ralph. The languid, nocturnal mood of
No.1 is brilliantly captured by the performer, as is the yearning quality of the contrasting alto work.
Solar Dust: Orbits and Spirals for mandolin written by Ian Shanahan and performed by Michael
Hooper, features the composer's distinctive style and focuses on the pitch B and its microtones.

Mary Mageau as both composer and performer features in this re-release of her 1984 work, Soliloquy
written for the QUT Dance Department and choreographed by Maggie Sietsma. The work's dreamy
character and flowing mood are perfectly suited to the chosen piano idiom. The concluding track,
featuring the lush tones of Lawrence Bartlett's 1988 organ work, Procession for Elisabeth - written
on the occasion of his daughter's wedding and played by the composer - makes a stately end to this
disc.

Released on the JADE label as CDI090, American Dream is produced by Robert Allworth and
distributed by Broad Music 02-9938 3440.

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