180 Degrees from Ordinary

180 Degrees from Ordinary

Description: 
Minnesota, pre-'Intergalactic'
Composers: 
Allen Gleck
Astor Piazzola
Frank Zappa
Libby Larsen
Paul Siskind
Performers: 
Minnesota Contemporary Ensemble
Intergalactic Contemporary Ensemble
Catalog Number: 
#513
Genre: 
new classical
Collection: 
chamber
Location: 

Minneapolis, MN

Price: 
$15.00
Release Date: 
Jan 1, 1997
Liner Notes: 
View
1 CD
180 Degrees from OrdinaryiTunes Artist's PageiTunes Album Page
Song TitleTimePrice
1.Four, for Tango06:24$0.99
2.Rituale11:57
3.Black Roller11:38
4.Chaconne09:30$0.99
5.The Black Page04:16$0.99
6.2 Trumpets, Fast03:13$0.99
7.Watch…Wait11:58
One Sheet: 

The debut release from the gritty Minnesota Contemporary Ensemble (MCE), known for the energy and vitality of their live performances. 180º from Ordinary features concert recordings made during the first four years of MCE's existence. It includes not only Frank Zappa's The Black Page and Astor Piazzola's Four, for Tango, but also the world premiere recordings of Black Roller by Libby Larsen, Rituale by Paul Siskind, Two Trumpets by Allen Gleck, and watch...wait by Tom Trenka, recipient of the 1997 American Composers Forum Composers Commissioning Program. 

Founded in 1993, MCE has quickly become recognized as one of the nation's leading new music ensembles. In past projects, MCE has collaborated with John Harbison, Libby Larsen, David Soldier, Lou Harrison, and Zeitgeist. Under Artistic Director Duane Schulthess, the ensemble has performed tours and concerts around the country to critical and public acclaim. 

Reviews: 

TWIN CITIES READER

"High voltage modern music...no bunny slope jaunt, even sometimes unnerving, but these guys don't shirk the tough stuff."

CITY PAGES

"This young modern music group digs the edgy, abstract."

AMAZON

Having seen the MCE a number or times I bought this disk at the first opportunity and was not dissapointed at all. "Four For Tango" and "Chaconne" are definite standouts as well as "watch...wait" and "rituale". Both Siskind and Trenka are names to look out for in the future. Those familiar to the genere of string quartet should note that the performance of "Four for Tango" exceeds the recording by the Kronos Quartet in my book (and I am a devout Kronos fan). - Panditpatch