Santa Fe New Mexican

When one thinks of the minimalist tradition in American music, the names Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and John Adams come to mind. But other composers working this corner of the classical spectrum also deserve attention. One is Massachusetts-born Frederic Rzewski, who has long used minimalist techniques in his music, much of which is written for solo piano. What separates Rzewski from the more popular minimalists appears to be his specific compositional language, grounded in the European tradition. This recording features the popular "new music" ensemble eighth blackbird -- the group insists on the all-lower-case spelling -- and brings together three of Rzewski's larger works. "Pocket Symphony," written in 2000 on commission from eighth blackbird, features several extended cadenzas, each for a different instrument. 1969's "Les Moutons de Panurge" is the most minimalist of the works, though Rzewski's writing often mocks the tradition it draws from. The final piece, 1971's "Coming Together," uses spoken text, in this case a letter written by Sam Melville, a convict killed in the uprising at New York's Attica prison. "Coming Together" is an organic variant of Reich's celebrated tape manipulations. The music isn't easy, but it offers rewards to the patient listener.

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