JOHANNA BEYER (1884-1944): String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2, Suites for Clarinet Nos. 1 and 1b, 3 Songs for Soprano and Clarinet, Ballad of the Star-Eater for Soprano and Clarinet, Movement for Double Bass and Piano, Sonatina in C for Piano, Bees for Piano, Movement for 2 Pianos, 3 Pieces for Choir, The Federal Music Project for Choir.

Description: Born in Leipzig and a 1924 immigrant to the U.S., not much is known about Beyer's early years or early years in New York City, where she became a member of the circle of composers including Carl Ruggles, Ruth Crawford, Charles Seeger and Henry Cowell. Her work from 1930-37 is among the best realizations of the Seegers' compositional ideas of "dissonant counterpoint" and all of the works recorded here date from within this period except the much more conventional and simple Sonatina of 1943. Complicated, thorny and certainly not easy on 1930s' ears, Beyer's music is an important document of a particular period and school of American 20th century music. 2 CDs. Astra Chamber Music Society; John McCaughey.