the RED BANANA: 5/31- CLASSICAL DELIGHTS

a column by

Kristen Kozub

Eric Whitacre: Cloudburst

When first introduced to the works of American composer Eric Whitacre, it is hard to believe that the creator of such rich compositions and thick harmonic textures received no formal training until the age of eighteen. A mere twenty years later, Whitacre has become one of the most sought-after contemporary composers, by professional and amateur choirs alike. When listening to the most recent addition to his discography, entitled Cloudburst, it is not hard to understand why audiences adore his work, and are left aching for more. This recording has that same effect.

It opens with the majestic "I Thank You God for Most This Amazing Day," a setting of the E.E. Cummings poem. Whitacre seems to match the bold nature of the text with the music he chooses to complement it. The heavy layering of parts and frequent occurrences of what are affectionately known as "Whitacre chords" make this an appropriate introduction to the sound that is distinctly his.Another notable piece is the third track, entitled "Sleep," which has become one of Whitacre's signature and most famous works, and my personal favorite. Not only is the text exquisite, but the music is extraordinarily beautiful, and fitting for its text. The strong dissonances and lush harmonies allow the listeners to enter the dreamlike state that the character in the poem experiences. The piece eerily concludes after its climax with a fade out of the voices, as the poem suggests "surrendering" to sleep. What is interesting about this particular work is that the musical setting was written prior to the text. Whitacre originally intended to write a setting of Robert Frost's "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening," but when the Frost estate forbade its publication until 2038, Whitacre enlisted his friend, Anthony Silvestri, to write an alternative text. Since the work's publication in 2000, it has become a favorite of choral directors and audiences throughout the United States.

The title track of the album, "Cloudburst," is perhaps the most artistic and adventurous work on the disc. With the colorful addition of piano and percussion, Whitacre creatively uses the choir to simulate a rainstorm, using wind chimes, thunder sheets, handbells, and body percussion. His energetic and innovative setting of a short poem by Octavio Paz is sure to surface frequently in the years to come.

The concluding track of the disc, "Lux Arumque," is yet another glorious setting of a seemingly simple text, which Whitacre chose to have translated into Latin. He does an excellent job of establishing setting in this one. The mysterious chords in the opening and the way Whitacre layers the voices make it an appropriate conclusion, ending in a way that should leave its audience at peace.

For this recording, Whitacre is joined by the collegiate choir Polyphony, conducted by Stephen Layton, and for the most part, they suit the album wonderfully. My only complaint would be that the soloists did not adequately perform the solos, and that there was not enough depth to them. My feeling is that the soprano was the strongest of the four, and that her voice fit the stylistics of the pieces the best.

Many people have criticized Whitacre for the fact that his pieces sound so similar. I, however, found something distinctly different about each one of the tracks on this disc. The poetry he uses is unbelievably honest and exquisite, and his music follows suit. Although many people believe Whitacre's texts to be heavily rooted in religion, they will find that it is actually quite the contrary. Whitacre has been quoted as saying that he chooses only the texts that he finds, simple, honest, and often quiet, allowing the audience to take what they want from it. Speaking from experience, his music is rangy and painstakingly difficult to learn, but penetrates the souls of its performers and listeners with the onset of the first chord. What is so lovely and different about this work is that, with the exception of the title track, the only instruments used are human voices. There is nothing more miraculous and magnificent. Regardless of whether or not you are a fan of choral music, this is a record that is a feast for the ears and should definitely be given a chance. It will undoubtedly leave its listeners humbled and awestruck.

Track Listings for Cloudburst:

1. i thank You God for most this amazing day (1999, TEXT: e.e. cummings)
2. I hide myself (1991, TEXT: Emily Dickinson)
3. Sleep (2000, TEXT: Charles Anthony Silvestri)
4. Go, lovely Rose (1991, TEXT: Edmund Waller)
5. When David Heard (1999, TEXT: II Samuel 18:33)
6. hope, faith, life, love (1999, TEXT: e.e. cummings)
7. Cloudburst (1993, TEXT: Octavio Paz)
8. With a lily in your hand (1991, TEXT: Federico Garcia Lorca
9. This Marriage (2004, TEXT: Jalal al-Din Rumi)
10. Water Night (1995, TEXT: Octavio Paz)
11. A Boy and a Girl (2002, TEXT: Octavio Paz)
12. Her sacred spirit soars (2002, TEXT: Charles Anthony Silvestri)
13. Lux aurumque (2000, TEXT: Edward Esch/Charles Anthony Silvestri)

Check out his MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/ericwhitacre

Here is a slideshow to "Sleep":