Night Music

(2006)

Audio Excerpts

Press for “Night Music”

“The night ended with a [Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble] commissioned work, Thomas Albert’s ‘Night Music.’ PNME, here minus only its singer, unveiled a composer’s dialogue with past music by Mozart, Sondheim and ragtime composer Joseph Lamb.… Lyrical nocturnes prepared the allusions, and then tender strains surrounded them. A movement devoted to Lamb’s “Ragtime Nightingale” used recorded birdsong and a funny playfulness of piccolo player Lindsey Goodman as a mischievous bird. Another, titled ‘Incubus,’ was more stormy than demonic. However, the greater part of the work abounded with unabashed tonal beauty. From the delicate ambiance of the nocturnes to the warm depiction of dawn in ‘Aurora,’ ‘Night Music’ was transporting and exquisite and was performed so.”

– Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“The disc contains two pieces, Kieren MacMillan’s ‘Drunken Moon’ and Thomas Albert’s “Night Music,” two excellent recent PNME commissions. Both are imaginative, accessible and wonderfully diverse works subject here to sensitive playing.

Albert’s ‘Night Music’ reflects on the musical tradition of quiet night music (hinting at Mozart), but can’t help but step out of the shadows. Three delicate nocturnes structure the work. But the intervening movements let the other aspects of night emerge, from nightmares to dreams to sounds of nature. Albert’s flowing writing connects it all in a splendor of sound and signifying that finds capable advocacy in PNME’s talented performers. A strong debut to say the least”

– Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Instrumentation
Duration
23:30
Premiere
City Theatre, Pittsburgh PA, July 2006

Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Kevin Noe, artistic director: Lindsey Goodman, flutes; Kevin Schempf, clarinets; Minghuan Xu, violin & viola; Victoria Bass, cello; Lisa Pegher, percussion; Daniel Spiegel, piano
Commission
Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble
Recording
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