This episode features the premiere recording of a Tristan Murail composition that contemplates Böcklin’s Isle of the Dead in a way that’s just as sensuous but less literal than Rachmaninoff’s famous depiction. We contrast it with the more subdued sound world of Pēteris Vasks, Latvia's preeminent composer, for his 80th birthday, and we also continue our journey down Frederic Rzewski’s The Road with an excerpt that takes Dickens as its inspiration. The Sylvie Courvoisier and Biondini/Godard/Niggli trios offer acoustic improv, while Melvin Gibbs and Roman Rofalski take a more electronicized approach. Worst Spills and Carlos Guedes present contrasting flavors of avant-rock, while trumpeter Samantha Boshnack unveils a new big band project in Seattle. The Tallis Scholars' own upcoming Northwest performances lead us to examine the modern practice of Lamentations settings from Stravinsky to Muhly, rounding out one of our most variegated and intriguing programs yet on Flotation Device!
