Wily Coyote

A variation on the rock and pop world's "best of" compilation albums, this disc entitled " A Portrait" is a collection of works by 20th century American composer Lou Harrison. The performers are the California Symphony conducted by Barry Jekowsky and it is fitting that they should be so, since Harrison's music is very much of the west coast. It has roots in native American music and values but is also facing Asia and taking in much from the music of Japan, China and particularly Javanese gamelan. Certain aspects recall Copland and even Dvorak before him but on the whole, Harrison is deliberately turning his back on European music, both from the classical and romantic period and more relevantly from any serialist approach. That is not to say that it eschews the experimental, the percussion piece that closes the disk, Double Music, is a joint effort with John Cage. Elegy, To The Memory Of Calvin Simmons is a simple moving piece dedicated to a young conductor who died in an accident, mainly written for strings but with solo oboe played by William Banovetz. Solstice is the work which most features those Asian influences and spotlights the solo flute of Timothy Day, while Concerto in Slendro pits the violin of Maria Bachmann aggainst a battery of percussion. Symphony No 4, which he correctly sub-titled Last Symphony, is a substantial forty minute work with a native American / ecological backdrop which culminates in the final movement with Three Coyote Stories sung / narrated by jazz soul singer Al Jarreau. These wise and humourous folk tales seem to sum up the composer himself.