Chiaroscuro
Richard Lavenda composer
Leone Buyse alto flute; Benjamin Kamins bassoon
Matthew Strauss vibraphone; Timothy Pitts double bass
Richard Nunemaker tenor saxophone
Trio con Brio | Gary Whitman clarinet; Misha Galaganov viola; John Owings piano
The Chiara String Quartet | Rebecca Fischer violin; Hyeyung Yoon violin;
Jonah Sirota violin; Gregory Beaver cello; Norman Fischer cello 2
CHIAROSCURO, Chamber Music by Richard Lavenda is a bright and engaging new album of some of composer Richard Lavenda’s favorite chamber works–all written for personal friends. The title track refers to the visual art technique of a strong contrast between dark and light, and this motif aptly describes the listening experience.
The opening quartet, written for the unusual ensemble of alto flute, bassoon, vibraphone, and double bass, is bold–says the composer, “CHIAROSCURO explores many of the timbre and textural combinations afforded me by the unusual ensemble we created. The alternating fast and slow sections differ in affect and character, and while I would hesitate to label either as the light or the dark areas that define the eponymous painting style there certainly are audible shadowings, blurred borders, and complementarities.”
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Artist Information
Richard Lavenda
Richard Lavenda composes music that is sometimes boldly dramatic and sometimes poignantly lyrical, but always emotionally expressive and formally coherent. No matter what the piece, there are always clearly defined motives, an imaginative and personal use of instrumental color and melodic counterpoint, and strong rhythmic energy that comes as much from jazz and rock and roll as from his classical role models. His catalog of more than sixty works ranges from works for solo flute to an opera, and includes numerous pieces for orchestra and for a wide diversity of chamber ensembles.