All of the sections bear dedications to Curran's friends and colleagues (including Steve Lacy, Margaret Leng Tan, Lou Harrison, Trisha Brown, Rzewski, and Vandewalle himself for the nearly hour-long Inner Cities 10), and the overall effect of this work is that of a composer examining his own art... his influences, his process, his piano, the notes and scales themselves, the sound of sound...
Ultimately, then, this is some of the most deeply personal and frankly sentimental (in the best possible way) music I've heard in a long time. It is by turns charming, maddening, annoying, gorgeous, funny, thoughtful, reckless, tedious, dull, stunning — a fully realized sonic portrait... and a long distance journey to be savored...
[from serenade in green]
Article comments
1 - Stephen V Funk
I was very flattered to receive this email message from Alvin Curran today in response to my CD review of his composition Inner Cities ...
steve,
thank you very much. your writing is enviably clear and not only devoid of most of the critical excesses of most critical critics...but happily in tune with the music.
If you don't mind, I might use a quote or two from this writing on my own site (and will include a link)... this piece is causing a number of favorable reactions and of course in concert (there have been almost 10 of them) produces the same.... I am happy to be compared to all the illustrious company that you cite--- they are all close to my musical world in one way or another..
all best, alvin c
Alvin Curran
Rome, Italy
http://www.alvincurran.com/
"a great site!"