A collection of works showcasing modern American composers-many of whom are relative unknowns - "Poet's Eye" is refined, luxurious, even abstract, and, as the name implies, also serves to expose a variety of poets as well. Many of the compositions were commissioned specifically for Chanticleer, and they most definitely reflect a modern sensibility. "Dusk," by Allen Shearer, connotes the movement of the earth and sky, imbued with tranquility and friction in equal measure. "Mushrooms," is a tumble of mournful declarations. Hawley's "Seven Madrigals" (two of which are included here) are modern madrigals, weaving strands of the classical with contemporary inflections. Rorem, using the Whitman's Civil War diary "Specimen Days" as his source, offers a minimalist reduction, sometimes monophonic, consistently somber and disturbing. A CD of depth and power. |
