Well, I guess I have staved off the charge of fuddy-duddyism one more time -- I attended my first concert by Current Sounds, the local association dedicated to the performance of work by living composers. I have to admit that I felt it would be more of a duty than a pleasure -- living up to my oft-repeated statement that to avoid becoming a museum classical music had to keep welcoming new and modern works into the standard performance repertory -- but boy, was I wrong.

The November 7 concert at First United Methodist Church was wonderful, and I am already getting impatient for the next one (which, due to budgetary constraints will not be for some time).

The works they played were overwhelmingly tuneful and accessible. The featured Stephen Paulus’s “Songs of Love and Longing” (1992) and “Seven for the Flowers Near the River,” for viola and piano (1988); selections from William Bolcom’s “Cabaret Songs,” Aaron Jay Kernis’s “Air,” arranged for cello and piano by Carter Brey; William G. Harbinson’s “Sonata for flute and piano” (2003), and Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov’s, “Postludium,” for solo violin. The performers were Linda Holland, flute; Leslie Hogan, Young-A Choi, Anne Weger, Seungah Seo and Heather Levin, pianists; Linda Rose, violin, Kirsten Monke, viola, Virginia Kron-cello, Emma Lou Diemer, organ, and Agatha Carubia and Rebecca Marchand, sopranos.
Except for the Paulus viola suite, I had never heard any of it before, so there were some major discoveries for me, particularly the music of Aaron Jay Kernis -- who is definitely someone I would like to hear more of. Emma Lou Diemer, of course, is reliably wonderful. Her two short organ pieces were jaunty and refreshing -- and very well made. Rebecca’s Marchand’s lovely voice was perfectly complemented by Leslie Hogan’s piano playing and made Paulus’s haunting songs a memorable experience. (I am always conscious that when I praise one performance I am slighting the others, but I have nothing but respect and admiration for all the performers in this concert. I just like some of the compositions better than others.)

I will try to keep you posted on this group’s doings, or you could call them at 964-0308.