Modern American Music for Harpsichord

MEL POWEL (1923-1998): Recitative and Toccata Percossa, HENRY COWELL (1897-1965): Ostinato from Set of Four, NED ROREM (b.1923): Spiders*, SAMUEL ADLER (b.1928): Sonata, ROBERT MUCZYNSKI (1929-2010): Profiles*, THOMAS BENJAMIN (b.1940): 3 Movements "Semi-Suite"*, ROBERT MOEVS (1920-2007): Saraband*, STEPHEN BLUMBERG (b.1962): Gyre*, PATRICIA MOREHEAD (b.1940): Tourbillon Galaxy*, HAROLD MELTZER (b.1966): 5 Toccatas*.

Description: Bach, Scarlatti and the French clavecinistes are mentioned by several of these composers as influences on these pieces (not all of which are toccatas, even though that's the disc's title) but all of these pieces have an energy which, if not baroque, is certainly "American". Adler's 11-minute sonata, the longest work here, may make you hope that you'll hear more larger-scale modern harpsichord compositions. * - First recordings. Jory Vinikour (harpsichord). CD & Blu-ray disc.