Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962) is a winner of the Pulitzer Prize and Grammy award, and is one of the most performed living American composers working today. Ms. Higdon's upcoming work includes an opera on Charles Frazier's book, 'Cold Mountain', for Santa Fe Opera and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. This recording feature three recent chamber works: In Scenes from the Poet's Dreams (composed for the performers who play it here) the piano left hand (virtuoso Gary Graffman) takes a prominent part in the unfolding of this highly contrasted work, bearing unusually descriptive titles: "Racing Through Stars", "Summer Shimmers Across the Glass of Green Ponds" etc.. Light Refracted is a meditation on light. The composer describes a first movement "that reflects on our inner light, and how we take that light in; and a second movement that is the opposite, our projection of light out to the world." She also writes about An Exaltation of Larks: "The first time someone told me that a collection of Larks is called an 'Exaltation', I immediately thought, 'What a sound an exaltation of larks must make!'--How to capture the beauty of the idea of exalting and singing? A string quartet seemed perfect!" This disc marks the debut of the Lark Quartet on Bridge.
Reviews:
“These are three striking tone poems written in Higdon’s effective brand of modern tonality. Don’t miss this.” - American Record Guide
“This is evocative and engaging music, with some deft left-hand pianism from Garry Graffman and a dedicated response from the Lark.” - Gramophone
“The best Higdon I’ve heard. I haven’t been a fan in the past but two of these works are clear winners.” - MusicWeb International
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Scenes from the Poet's Dreams (1999)
Gary Graffman, piano left hand
Lark Quartet
Light Refracted (2002)
Todd Palmer, clarinet
Blair McMillen, piano
members of Lark Quartet
An Exaltation of Larks (2005)
Lark Quartet
Gary Graffman
Blair McMillen
Todd Palmer
BRIDGE 9379