American Orchestral Works

The problem with reviewing music is that what one person likes, another dislikes. Unfortunately, that is the case with this album. Honestly, I have no desire to listen to contemporary classical music or 20th Century music, and this album, American Orchestral Works, is nothing but that. I give the album 2.5 Stars, because I have no strong recommendation. If you like more modern classical music, you will in most cases enjoy this album. If you like only Mozart and his counterparts, don't bother.

Although, I get no pleasure listening to the music on this album, I find solace in the fact that the Grant Park Orchestra's performance, lead by Carlos Kalmar, was vibrant, precise, and full of passion. The Grant Park Orchestra is the resident orchestra of Chicago's ten week long, Grant Park Music Festival. Created in 1943, the Grant Park Orchestra has been playing classical music to the public for free for the last sixty-three years, and shows no signs of stopping. In 2004, the Grant Park Orchestra moved to its new home in the state-of-the-art Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

On this album, you'll find five works by various artists all composed within the last 12 years: Barbara Kolb’s "All in Good Time" (1994), Aaron Jay Kernis’s "Sarabanda in Memoriam" (2003), Michael Hersch’s "Ashes of Memory" (1999), John Corigliano’s "Midsummer Fanfare" (2004), and John Harbison’s "Partita for Orchestra" (2000). As I said before, I don't particularly like this style of music. Give me structure, balance, and predictability any day, and I'll be happy. Don't get me wrong, these works are a little easier to listen to, and are more enjoyable, than, say, Arnold Schoenberg's Phatasie, Op.47. If you like a modern flare to your music, than go ahead and buy this album.