Tanglewood Presents US Premiere of Alexander Goehr's Since Brass, nor Stone... and Features Bernard Rands' “now again”-fragments from Sappho

This year Tanglewood's Festival of Contemporary Music features the US Premiere of Alexander Goehr's Since Brass, nor Stone... on August 15. Having earned Goehr a British Composer Award, the work was praised by that panel of judges for its “fresh lyricism, lightness of touch and joy in melodic and rhythmic invention.” The panel’s decision was unanimous for a work which they hailed as that of a master. We look forward to celebrating Alexander Goehr’s 80th birthday in 2012.

On July 8, the Tanglewood Music Center presented a program of Vocal Chamber Music at Seiji Ozawa Hall featuring Bernard Rands’ “now again”-fragments from Sappho. The piece just saw a performance at the June in Buffalo Festival and is now available on a new recording by Network for New Music entitled Now Again-Music by Bernard Rands on Albany Records. The recording is a hearty sampling of the composer’s chamber oeuvre and includes his Prelude...sans voix parmi les voix..., Scherzi and Walcott Songs.

Bernard Rands
Alexander Goehr

Purchase Now Again-Music by Bernard Rands here.

Alexander Goehr
Since Brass, nor Stone... (2008)
fantasy for string quartet and percussion
12'

Bernard Rands
“now again"- fragments from Sappho (2006)
for mezzo-soprano and ensemble
fl(afl).cl(bcl).tp.hp.perc.vn.va.vc.alto voice
17'

Prelude...sans voix parmi les voix... (2004)
for flute, viola, harp
12’

Scherzi (1974)
for chamber ensemble
cl(bcl).pno.vn.vc.
18’

Walcott Songs (2004)
for mezzo-soprano and cello
15’