alumni news and notes

Issued

Recordings by Obies

Bach Live!
Performed by Timothy Albrecht '73
Emory, 1997

Emory University organist Albrecht performs, among others pieces, "Fantasy and Fugue in G Minor" and "Fugue in G Major." Recorded live in Bach organ recitals performed September 8, 1996 and September 7, 1997 at Emory's Glenn Memorial Auditorium.


Andrea Falconieri:
Canzione, Sinfonie,
Fantasie, & Dances, Naples 1650
Performed by La Luna, Ensemble for Early Music
with Emily Walhout '83 on viola da gamba
Wildboar, 1997

Of La Luna's performance at the 1997 Boston Early Music Festival, Brian Clark wrote in the UK's Early Music Review, "To say the least, this was an hour of sheer delight."

Two Flowers on a Stem
Performed by the Jon Jang Sextet
Jon Jang '78
Soul Note, 1997

"Masterfully blending his jazz influences (e.g. Mingus and Ellington) with his Chinese heritage and political awareness," writes Downbeat, "pianist Jon Jiang fashions a personal, uncompromising conception of jazz." Features flutist James Newton and saxophonist David Murray, along with Chen Jiebing on the traditional Chinese two-stringed ehru.

Transcriptions from St. Justin's
Performed by Christa Rakich '75
AFKA Records, 1997

Works of Wagner, Barber, Mussorgsky, Rossini, and others, performed on the 1933 Kilgen organ at St. Justin's Church, Hartford, Connecticut.

And Trouble Came: Musical Responses to AIDS
Compositions by Chris DeBlasio, Laura Kaminsky '78,
and C. Bryan Rulon
CRI, 1996

Organized by the Musicians' Accord, a group promoting new music and headed by Kaminsky, this CD is meant to bring together three diverse musical responses to AIDS and to heighten public awareness about AIDS. Kaminsky's piece, entitled "And Trouble Came: An African AIDS Diary," successfully combines "hymns, blues, and gestures not unlike those of Shostakovich and the composer's contemporary," writes Sheila Silver, In Tune.

CHINA: Time to Listen
Produced by josef bomback
ellipsis arts, 1998

China: Time to ListenThis set of three compact disks, accompanied by a 56-page 4/color booklet, features a collection of Chinese music compiled to survey the different musical sounds of China's past and present. Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma says, "This compilation provides a window to the musical sounds, textures and dimensions of China. The wide range of repertoire provides us a unique opportunity to sense the past and invites us to take in...the many voices and sounds that are China." The three CDs feature an eclectic collection of music including a cappella folk songs, Islamic fusion music, pipa music, Chinese "bluegrass" music, chamber music from the Tang and Song Dynasties, silk bamboo music, Guqin zither, vagabond dance music, traditional Cantonese music, tree leaf, and dances of the Yi people. Many of the "musical stories" have never before been heard outside of China, and some of the selections were produced especially for this collection.

The booklet, filled with pictures, photos and quotes, includes a note from Bomback in which he explains his introduction to China's music and traces his study of Chinese culture, history, philosophy, music and musical instruments. In addition to detailed descriptions of the works featured on each disk, an overview of Chinese music, interviews with featured musicians, and a glossary of some of the musical instruments, the booklet also includes a map of China's provinces, descriptions of the country's geography and population, and an introduction to Chinese calligraphy. A portion of the proceeds will go to The China Youth Development Foundation, a group which supports educational programs for children in China.

Please send news of your recently published book or CD, along with a review copy, if possible, to "Issued," Oberlin Alumni Magazine. We'll present your review copy to the Oberlin College Library as a gift from you once your news has been published. Please note: The magazine can announce only those books and CDs which are available for sale through bookstores or music outlets. If your book or CD has been privately published and you would like classmates to know about it, consider calling (440) 775-8182 to inquire about running an announcement in the classified advertising section of the Oberlin Alumni Magazine.