George Crumb’s reputation as a composer of hauntingly beautiful scores has made him one of the most frequently performed composers today. Songs, Drones, and Refrains of Death, scored for baritone, electric instruments and percussion, is based on the poetry of Federico García Lorca, with its fantastically rich expression and evocative power. It provides an admirable vehicle for musical re-creation: ‘...a language to complement this very beautiful poetry’ in the composer’s words. It is coupled on this disc with Quest, a sextet led by an acoustic guitar and featuring a host of unusual percussion instruments, including the Appalachian hammered dulcimer, the African talking drum, and the Mexican rain stick.
Crumb, George
García Lorca, Federico - Lyricist
Songs, Drones and Refrains of Death
1 Refrain 1 01:25
2 I. La Guitarra (The Guitar) / Death-Drone I 04:19
3 Refrain 2 00:52
4 II. Casida de las Palomas ocuras (Casida of the Dark Doves) 04:14
5 Refrain 3 01:06
6 Death-Drone II 01:48
7 III. Cancion de Jinette, 1860 (Song of the Rider, 1860) - 01:56
8 Cadenza appassionata for 2 drummers 01:31
9 Refrain 4 01:03
10 IV. Casida del Herido por el agua (Casida of the Boy Wounded by the Water) 02:09
11 Death-Drone III 08:43
Crumb, George
Quest
12 Refrain 1 00:56
13 I. Dark Paths 05:06
14 II. Fugitive Sounds 02:11
15 Refrain 2 00:40
16 III. Forgotten Dirges 04:22
17 IV. Fugitive Sounds 01:05
18 Refrain 3 01:03
19 V. Nocturnal 10:10
