Contemporary classical music in the style of the early 21st Century

11 MP3 Songs in this album (47:13) !
Related styles: Classical: Contemporary, Mood: Intellectual

People who are interested in Bartok Mahler Stravinsky should consider this download.


Details:
The main work on this CD is a tone poem for orchestra based on the Seventh Circle of Dante's "Inferno." To this circle are condemned those who in life were guilty of violence -- to themselves, to others, and even to philosophy and ethics. The music is highly descriptive of the tortures these souls endure -- ranging from raging dissonance to mournful acceptance.

Following this work is an anonymous Lithuanian folk song sung without accompaniment by Kotryna Rhoda. Following it are two sets of piano variations on the song, composed by Dennis Ruff, in highly contrasting styles.

The third work is a series of variations for piano on the medieval hymn, Dies Irae, about The Day of Judgement, which is now often included in the Latin Mass.

The final work, Fire: The Bringer of Life, is for wordless chorus and diverse instrument, and seeks to describe musically the composer's interpretation of the first of the four elements. This piece is energetic, but not violent, and ends the CD on a decided feeling of optimism and awe.