DANIEL S. GODFREY (b.1949): Festoons for Piano, Luna Rugosa for Flute, Clarinet, Cello and Piano, From a Dream of Russia for Clarinet, Violin and Piano, Arietta for Cello and Piano, Serenata Ariosa for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, Breath and Shadow for Bassoon, String Quartet and Double Bass, Pomp and Revelry for Wind Quintet.

Description: These attractive and varied works for various chamber ensembles are all fundamentally tonal, with obvious allegiance especially to French Impressionism, as well as a hint of Sibelius. The three movements of From a Dream employ material derived from Russian folk music and Orthodox church music, which makes itself felt in a stronger sense of modal tonality even than in the other pieces here. The refined and sensitive instrumental colors of the ensemble pieces, especially the atmospheric Luna Rugosa, the most recent work here, suggest a particularly subtle nature-painting in sound, evoking the effects of light on wind-ruffled water and the gentle melancholy of twilight. Extended, questing melodic lines again evoke the Sibelius of Tuonela. The program is framed by two occasional pieces, lighter in mood and more straightforward in texture and tonality, rounding out an extremely approachable and enjoyable disc. Members of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.