Credits:

Felder, David (1953-)

Description:

A must-listen for fans of Kobo Abe? s contemporary music Arditti Quartet, a disc featuring violinist Irvin Arditti, who has made a name for himself as one of the most renowned contemporary musicians in the world. David Felder, born in 1953, is one of America's leading composers and was composer-in-residence with the Buffalo Philharmonic in the 1990s. The Face of Others is an unaccompanied violin piece based on that novel by Kobo Abe. It is music with an indescribable aftertaste that highlights the perils of modern human identity and fades away, leaving behind a slight lyricism in a world dominated by immediate fear. The title of "Tarot Play" is reminiscent of Stravinsky's "Carta Play," and the work consists of seven movements based on the Major Arcana of the Tarot cards: "The Magician," "The Fool," "The Priestess," "The Hermit," "The Empress," "The Priestess," and "Moonlight. It is written for violin and chamber ensemble with a variety of instruments. Netivot," titled after the Hebrew word for "way," is a string quartet in three movements: "Devotion," "Seclusion," and "Pillar of Cloud and Fire. The quartet's flawless performance of this difficult piece with its use of microtones is noteworthy. King International