Alarm Will Sound & Ossia, Alan Pierson - Steve Reich: Tehillim, The Desert Music (2002)

Posted By: Designol

Alarm Will Sound & Ossia, Alan Pierson - Steve Reich: Tehillim, The Desert Music (2002)
EAC | FLAC | Tracks (Cue&Log) ~ 445 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 194 Mb | Scans included
Contemporary, Minimalism, Vocal | Label: Cantaloupe Music | # CA21009 | 01:14:44

Alarm Will Sound's recording of Steve Reich's monumental orchestral/choral works The Desert Music and Tehillim, released on the Cantaloupe label in 2002, greatly benefits from the group's close connections with the composer: the ensemble's conductor, Alan Pierson, and several of the performers studied at the Eastman School with Brad Lubman, a conductor frequently enlisted by Reich. Also, Pierson's arrangements, which reconcile the chamber and orchestral versions that exist for both works, were prepared in close consultation with the composer; thus, this may well be the definitive recording of these pieces. Brilliantly sonorous in their climaxes – the burst of light near the end of Desert Music, the "Alleluias" that close Tehillim – the players also articulate Reich's intricate canonic textures with nimble precision. Voices and strings are always an Achilles heel within Reich's percussive textures (leading him to eliminate part doublings in favor of giving each line to a lone, amplified performer), but here the singers and strings maintain an impressive rhythmic vitality. This knack for precision carries over to the pristine recording, as well, which, for good or ill, was digitally recorded and heavily edited. Still, it makes up in energy and clarity what it might lack in performative spontaneity.

Review by Jeremy Grimshaw, Allmusic.com

The young, New York-based Cantaloupe Music (affiliated with the founders of Bang on a Can) is quickly building quite a discography. The catalogue traverses both premiere recordings, such as Evan Ziporyn’s stunning This is not a Clarinet–a disc that ranks as an absolute must-hear and one of the most exciting releases of recent years–and items very familiar to contemporary music fans (Terry Riley’s In C). Although any record company venture is an inherent gamble, there’s a particular risk for such a tyro label to issue already-recorded works. Take as an example de Leeuw’s Tehillim for Nonesuch, or Steve Reich’s own 1982 reading for ECM, which has been the standard-bearer for a generation. Why go at this same work yet another time?

Well, in the case of Alan Pierson’s version with the ensemble Ossia, the answer is simple. Not only does he have a new perspective to offer, but he and his forces better Reich’s recording. (It’s worth noting as well that Pierson made a change to Reich’s original instrumental arrangement; it is the same as the composer’s chamber version of the piece, but adds a second string quartet.) Pierson’s comfort and self-assuredness in these works are obvious. The vocals (featuring high soprano Elizabeth Phillips and lyric sopranos Akiko Fujimoto and Carolyn Dorey) are more confident and sure-footed–an achievement considering all the leaps Reich demands. Cantaloupe’s brashly forward, bright sound also is miles above ECM’s comparative dimness. The rhythms are vigorous and yet never sound mechanical (as in de Leew’s version). Perhaps the most interesting result of all of these changes is a shift in the overall mood of the piece: whereas the ECM recording conjures a hypnotic feeling, this is pure ebullience–entirely fitting for the Biblical texts of praise used in Tehillim (“Psalms”).

The Desert Music also is transformed. As with Tehillim, this piece exists in two versions, one for a chamber-sized ensemble, the other for symphonic forces. Unlike Tehillim, which is best known in its smaller arrangement (but can be heard in its orchestral form in a flat and disappointing performance with Zubin Mehta on the New York Philharmonic’s 10-disc “American Celebrations” set), The Desert Music probably is most familiar in its larger setting, on a recording with Michael Tilson Thomas and the Brooklyn Philharmonic (Nonesuch). With Reich’s permission, Pierson prepared his own edition of the piece that combines elements of Reich’s two versions–in short, it’s Reich’s chamber arrangement with seven brass players added–and Reich is happy enough with it to declare this the new standard chamber version. Played by Alarm Will Sound and Ossia, Pierson’s arrangement is broadly textured yet retains a certain intimacy that fits well with the William Carlos Williams poetry used here. As with Tehillim, the tautness, freshness, and enthusiasm in this recording casts a new light; here, the piece’s vibrancy and lightness is remarkable. All around, it’s a superb release, one in which Cantaloupe’s gamble has paid off handsomely.

Review by Anastasia Tsioulcas, ClassicsToday





'Tehillim' Performers:
Ossia
Conductor: Alan Pierson
High soprano: Elizabeth Phillips
Lyric sopranos: Akiko Fujimoto, Carolyn Dorey
Alto: Kirsten Sollek-Avella
Percussion: Clay Greenberg, Payton Macdonald, Karen Minzer, Ian Quinn, Jason Treuting, Lawson White
Flute: Jessica Johnson
Piccolo: Ann Choomack
Oboe: Michael Miller
English horn: Jeffrey L. Paul Ii
Clarinets: Elisabeth Stimpert, Andrea Levine
Organs: John Orfe, Rob Haskins
Violins: Susanna Cortesio (Principal), Terra Peach, Caleb Burhans, David Wish
Violas: Kara Poorbaugh, John Pickford Richards
Cellos: Stefan Freund, Luke Pomorski
Bass: Sara Lukjanovs
Assistant conductor: Clay Greenberg

'The Desert Music' Performers:
Alarm Will Sound and Ossia
Conductor: Alan Pierson
Female voices: Martha Cluver, Akiko Fujimoto, Heather Gardner,
Pam Igelsrud, Beth Meyers, Kirsten Sollek-Avella
Male voices: Caleb Burhans, Clay Greenberg, Will Jennings, Daniel Toven
Flutes/Piccolos: Jessica Johnson, Justin Berrie, Meg Sippey, Rachel Roberts
Horns: Matt Marks, Kate Sheeran
Trumpets: Lisa Edelman, Leah Schumann
Trombones: James Hirschfeld, David Beauchesne, Mike Dowden
Keyboards: Clay Greenberg, Solungga Fang-Tzu Liu, Tom Rosenkranz, Ian Quinn, Jen Snyder
Percussion: Dennis Desantis, Clay Greenberg, Beth Meyers, Payton Macdonald, Alex Postelnek,
Mike Tetreault, Jason Treuting, Lawson White, Pete Zlotnick
Violins: Courtney Orlando (Principal), Andrew Fouts, David Wish,
Yuki Numata, Autumn Inglin Shepherd, Michael Jorgensen
Violas: John Pickford Richards, Justin Caulley, Kara Poorbaugh
Cellos: Susie Kelly, Stefan Freund, Norbert Lewandowski
Basses: Ike Sturm, Brent Bulmann
Assistant conductor: Ian Quinn

Tracklist:

Tehillim (1981)
01. I. Psalm 19: 2-5 [11:13]
02. II. Psalm 34: 13-15 [5:52]
03. III. Psalm 18: 26-27 [7:47]
04. IV. Psalm 150: 4-6 [5:59]

The Desert Music (1984, revised chamber version 2001)
Text by William Carlos Williams
05. I. (Fast) [7:09]
06. II. (Moderate) [5:51]
07. III. Part I (Slow) [6:55]
08. III. Part II (Moderate) [5:12]
09. III. Part III (Slow) [5:59]
10. IV. (Moderate) [3:03]
11. V. (Fast) [9:38]


Exact Audio Copy V1.1 from 23. June 2015

EAC extraction logfile from 9. August 2016, 22:28

Reich, Steve / Tehillim, The Desert Music

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Gap handling : Appended to previous track

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TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 11:13.10 | 0 | 50484
2 | 11:13.10 | 5:52.07 | 50485 | 76891
3 | 17:05.17 | 7:47.33 | 76892 | 111949
4 | 24:52.50 | 6:03.37 | 111950 | 139211
5 | 30:56.12 | 7:09.10 | 139212 | 171396
6 | 38:05.22 | 5:51.05 | 171397 | 197726
7 | 43:56.27 | 6:55.30 | 197727 | 228881
8 | 50:51.57 | 5:12.30 | 228882 | 252311
9 | 56:04.12 | 5:58.43 | 252312 | 279204
10 | 62:02.55 | 3:03.00 | 279205 | 292929
11 | 65:05.55 | 9:38.47 | 292930 | 336326


Track 1

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Track 2

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Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [1C7A9B8E], AccurateRip returned [0DFC3883] (AR v2)
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Track 3

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Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [F6BDFA10], AccurateRip returned [85C9BEA5] (AR v2)
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Track 4

Filename D:\EAC extraction\04 - Tehillim - IV. Psalm 150; 4-6.wav

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Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [BD6794D0], AccurateRip returned [DC278C85] (AR v2)
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Track 5

Filename D:\EAC extraction\05 - The Desert Music - I. (Fast).wav

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Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [D77C4673], AccurateRip returned [965BC6D8] (AR v2)
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Track 6

Filename D:\EAC extraction\06 - The Desert Music - II. (Moderate).wav

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Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [39CBB62E], AccurateRip returned [64AD0A6A] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 7

Filename D:\EAC extraction\07 - The Desert Music - III. Part I (Slow).wav

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Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [B3BB355D], AccurateRip returned [7243DF90] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 8

Filename D:\EAC extraction\08 - The Desert Music - III. Part II (Moderate).wav

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Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [05075F6E], AccurateRip returned [98626D67] (AR v2)
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Track 9

Filename D:\EAC extraction\09 - The Desert Music - III. Part III (Slow).wav

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Track 10

Filename D:\EAC extraction\10 - The Desert Music - IV. (Moderate).wav

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Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [932188B4], AccurateRip returned [932E3C2E] (AR v2)
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Track 11

Filename D:\EAC extraction\11 - The Desert Music - V. (Fast).wav

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You may have a different pressing from the one(s) in the database

No errors occurred

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–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6

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6 | (3/3) Accurately ripped
7 | (3/3) Accurately ripped
8 | (3/3) Accurately ripped
9 | (3/3) Accurately ripped
10 | (3/3) Accurately ripped
11 | (3/3) Accurately ripped


==== Log checksum B6821C3D9FF18A23473E36FBEFEA92AA7C5C1C76204F8D27061477EA8B1EF281 ====

foobar2000 1.2 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2016-10-12 14:41:46

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Reich, Steve / Tehillim • The Desert Music - Alarm Will Sound & Ossia, Alan Pierson
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR13 -1.12 dB -16.82 dB 11:13 01-Tehillim - I. Psalm 19: 2-5
DR12 -1.00 dB -15.36 dB 5:52 02-Tehillim - II. Psalm 34: 13-15
DR12 -4.74 dB -22.56 dB 7:47 03-Tehillim - III. Psalm 18: 26-27
DR11 -1.00 dB -14.69 dB 6:03 04-Tehillim - IV. Psalm 150: 4-6
DR10 -0.50 dB -13.35 dB 7:09 05-The Desert Music - I. (Fast)
DR11 0.00 dB -13.38 dB 5:51 06-The Desert Music - II. (Moderate)
DR11 -1.44 dB -17.18 dB 6:55 07-The Desert Music - III. Part I (Slow)
DR9 0.00 dB -11.36 dB 5:12 08-The Desert Music - III. Part II (Moderate)
DR10 -1.72 dB -16.12 dB 5:59 09-The Desert Music - III. Part III (Slow)
DR10 -0.01 dB -12.57 dB 3:03 10-The Desert Music - IV. (Moderate)
DR10 -0.82 dB -14.12 dB 9:39 11-The Desert Music - V. (Fast)
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 11
Official DR value: DR11

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 766 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================



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