"A ravishingly original score by Mark Attebery." -Variety "A moody wash of woodwinds and percussion... the audience sat in a virtual force field." -Los Angeles Times

8 MP3 Songs
CLASSICAL: Contemporary, WORLD: World Fusion



Details:
"Mark Attebery's powerful score...resonates thrillingly, vividly etching the struggle between society's bindings and inner longings." -Drama Logue

"Lush, warm... music that soars lyrically." -San Diego Union

"Cactus On Mars", commissioned by the Oakland Ballet, features an ensemble of diverse and eclectic instruments including triple-chambered ocarinas, bamboo bass flute, Lakota cedar flute, Renaissance flutes and recorders, an experimental rubber marimba along with conventional classical woodwinds and percussion.

Also on the CD is "The Emperor and the Nightingale," a ballet based on a popular Hans Christian Andersen story. A vain Chinese Emperor obsesses over a lovely nightingale's song. A conflicting infatuation with a mechanical bird develops into a life and death struggle with powerful forces symbolized by the two birds. Ancient Chinese folk instruments and western classical winds do battle with modern electronics.

Rounding out the CD are excerpts from "Stan's Retreat" for flutes, recorders, vibraphone, soprano voice, and string bass, plus "Departure of the Youngsters" a primal soundscape with a vast array of experimental clay winds.

"A ravishingly original score" -Variety

"A moody wash of woodwinds and percussion...the audience sat in a virtual force field" -Los Angeles Times